February 4, 2026 • 34 mins
On today’s episode, Jason discusses why he's not a big fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers' decision to trade Darius Garland for James Harden, whether we can expect Giannis Antetokounmpo to get dealt before Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline, and why the Utah Jazz' acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr was such a breath of fresh air - even if it doesn't actually lead to a big leap up the standings. Plus, FTN Fantasy Chiefs Analytics Officer Aaron Schatz swings by to discuss the historically great Seattle Seahawks, whether the New England Patriots offense is closer to the one we saw in the regular season or the one we've seen in the postseason, which of the NFL head coaching hires could provide the biggest dividends, and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntire.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up Fire, Bam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight
Boyer for Wednesday, February the fourth.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Boy.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I did not even know the Pro Bowl happened last night. Honestly,
I'm scrolling on social media after the Lakers beat down
of the Brooklyn Nets. Holy hell, that was a forty
point game in the third quarter. I mean it was
like thirty in the first half. And I see these
highlights from what looked like the Pro Bowl. I'm like, wait,
they moved the Pro Bowl to Tuesday. I who knew?
(00:42):
But sorry, we can't talk about that. We got a
great interview with Aaron Shatz from FTN. He is a
Patriots fan, so he's naturally very very excited, and listen,
I'm not excited as a Jets fan that the New
England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl. We break
everything down. He like, is on the under. I did
write up the under for my little newsletter thingy. It's
(01:05):
gone down from forty six and a half to forty
six to forty five and a half to forty five.
I don't think it'll diplow with in that, but you know,
the ample evidence. We'll get all into it later in
the week, but before we get to Aaron Shatz, the
NBA trade deadline is Thursday, and everybody was like, well,
I don't think there's gonna be a lot of action.
There's not gonna be a ton of player movement. I
(01:25):
cannot imagine that a ton of action is gonna happen.
And then just kaboom left and right, chaos reiins. I mean, goodness, gracious,
you got trades basically all day. You got Jaren Jackson
going from Memphis to Utah and an eight player deal,
Jade and Ivy. The Pistons officially said we're throwing in
(01:47):
the towel. And this kid out of Purdue, he was
averaging seventeen a game last year, shop forty percent from three.
Then he had the broken leg and then just like
we're done. And then you had the Celtics and Bulls
doing a swap, Celtics saving money. And then the big one,
you know, it almost happened on Monday night, and then
it officially goes down on Tuesday. James Harden is traded
(02:10):
for what feels like the tenth time in his career.
He's going from the paper clips to Cleveland and he
in exchange for Darius Garland. I believe a second round
pick was tossed in there, folks. It's one of the
quieter big name trades. I mean, James Harden for a
decade has been one of the ten twelve biggest names
(02:31):
in the league. He's still a very good player. He
is just not a superstar. Lead scorer in thirty a game,
one of the league leaders, and he is thirty six
years old. He is going to a Cleveland team where
I don't know, is this the worst defensive backcourt of
a good team in the league. And I know some
people instantly say, well, what about Reeves. By the way,
(02:52):
Austin Reeves returned last night for the Lakers. What about
Reeves and Luca Well, that's not a great defensive backcourt.
But James Harden is jgitimately a turnstile. And I would
say Donovan Mitchell is not known as a plus defender
at all. We'll just quickly examine this one. So this
is how the season went. The Clippers started so horribly
(03:16):
that all signs point to James Harden was just like,
I'm done. I don't want to go out like this.
It's over you gotta trade me. So he was kind
of sour. He was putting up okay numbers, and then
weirdly they turn it around. They win seventeen of twenty
one games, and you'd think, okay, maybe hard AND's fine.
But clearly he had made up his mind. Maybe the
Chris Paul thing pissed him off. Where they ship Cris Paul,
(03:38):
I don't know. Very strange. Now the Calves are the
only team over the second Apron, and they clearly are like, listen,
we've got to impress Donovan Mitchell to keep him around.
What can we do. Let's get rid of Donovan, sorry,
Darius Garland and both of his big toes which have
been hurt and he's been missing a lot of time.
(03:58):
Let's just bring on James Harden. Let's just do it.
And the Clippers are like, oh, we can save almost
a million dollars to get below the first Apron deal.
I this isn't quite rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,
but it does feel like I just the Clippers are
kind of lost at this point. Remember, Kawhi has a
(04:23):
major injury history. Darius Garland right now hasn't played nothing
two weeks he might come back soon, and they don't
have their first round pick. It goes to Okac. So
there's a world where oh Man, Garland's Toekawhi and all
of a sudden they got nothing and they look as
bad as the Nets in the second half and okay
See gets a top five pick out of it. That
(04:43):
could actually happen. I don't think this materially makes the
Calves that much better. I mean, maybe you stagger the lineups,
so you have Harden coming off the bench in like
a sixth man roll and he's cooking and dishing and
everything works great off the bench, you know, in like
a twenty five thirty minute a game guy, and they
can make the playoffs and they've got more balance. That
(05:05):
could easily happen. I just don't see them as one
of the four best teams in the East right now.
And remember the Celtics are depleted because Jason Tatum's not
coming back, and I know Celtics fans think, oh, he
might come back. He could. He hasn't ruled it out
just to stop. You don't want him to force his
way back for what a second round exit, that's just goofy.
And then next year Haliburton comes back, and oh, by
(05:26):
the way, the Indiana Pacers are gonna have a high
draft pick. They're gonna be very good again. The Knicks
they're not going anywhere. We'll see what happens with the honest.
So the Cavs, it ain't happening this year. Then you've
got the Donovan Mitchell stuff. Their Hail Mary could be Hey, Donovan,
we're pushing all our chips in the middle. And as
I speculated yesterday, it's funny now other websites and other
(05:49):
social media accounts and reporters are like, oh, there's a
world where I think it was Tom Haberstrow, like he
was at ESPN years ago, and I don't remember where
he is NBC. Maybe I think he's come on the
pot once. But he's now putting out there what we
said last night that yeah, this could easily be Lebron
plus Jannis plus Mitchell plus Harden in the offseason. The
(06:12):
question is does Jannis get traded before then? Now as
times winding down, the shot clock is under ten now
to do him at the deadline. And this is the
one thing that gets interesting all of a sudden, you know,
we heard Giannis four to six, a video emerges of
Giannis at practice doing side shuffles and getting up shots
(06:32):
and to me that screamed, hey, guys.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Look look at me.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I'm healthy, I can play. I'm close to coming back.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Trade for me now.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I don't want to sit out the rest of the season,
because that's pretty much what the Bucks would do, right.
They would tank. They don't want Jannis to risk getting injured.
Nobody's trading for him if he has a serious injury
in a meaningless season. So my guess is Jannis wants
to get dealt It makes more sense in the summer.
But I think Giannis wants out. He doesn't want to
sit around and not play basketball for the rest to
the season. So that then now the Bucks have to
(07:03):
deal with that. What if Jannis gets antsy and it's like, guys,
please get me the hell out of here. His character
doesn't say that he would do that, But I wonder
if this hard thing is Gianni's just saying, please just
ship me. But he who says he's signing with Cleveland Minnesota,
by the way, a team I didn't think could seriously
pull it off. They got rid of Mike Conley in
(07:24):
a trade he goes it was one of these let's
see where it is. So Mike Conley goes to the
Bulls with Jade and Ivy, and essentially Minnesota is making
a move here just to get out of the luxury
tax or are in a more advantageous position to make
(07:44):
a run at a star like a Yiannis. They still
got work to do the other before we get to
my guy to talk NFL. I just want to quickly
go look at this Utah Jazz thing. I don't know
what Utah's building, but I gotta I gotta give them
props for at least trying. They are putting forth an effort.
(08:07):
It looked like just another Utah Jazz tank. Or hey,
maybe we'll trade Lowry market and you know, we'll see
what we're gonna do. No, they're kind of going all in.
They're saying, hey, we are gonna go with the Houston
Rockets slash Cleveland Cavaliers strategy of we're going big or
we're going home. And they now have a frontline of
(08:30):
Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson, and Lowry Markinen. That's I believe
seven one six eleven six' Eleven Lourie markin at the small. Forward,
Now marketing is not a great, defender but those two
Guys kesler And jackson on the back line is really.
Nice the problem is you need guards to actually bring
the ball up the court and facilitate. Offense Keyante george
(08:53):
is a budding. BALLER i mean that guy could get.
Buckets See i've watched him play The lakers twice this,
season and he is just a. Machine he is a scoring.
Machine and their hope is in a year or, Two
Ace bailey. Emerges you, know he's still a teenager they
get From. Rutgers he had the, ugly ugly offseason and
that a mess with the. Agent he's cleaned it. Up
he's got to be able to shoot the. Three but
(09:15):
they are looking At remember when The Houston rockets Got
Kevin durant and then they're, like, oh we could Put Amen,
Thompson Terry, Eason Jamari, SMITH kd The. Sengon we could
put all these guys like six' nine is our, smallest
guy and we're gonna get every rebound and offensive rebounds.
Are there they're. JUST dominating i think number one in
the League With. Steven adams that was before, his injury
(09:36):
And the cavaliers said we're gonna do it differently, last
year and they went with the two big Strategy Of
jared Allen And, evan mobley and it worked for. A
while everything was, going swimmingly and this year it just hasn't.
Really Worked mobile he's been a. Little hurt, YOU know
i don't really want to bash the strategy because At
least utah. Is trying they're trying to do something like
(09:59):
everyone else feels like they're just trying to make moves
to get unto the. Salary cap you tell, us like
now you, know what we're gonna actually. Try here we're
gonna try to. Win games and now the problem is
Are they does this move make them top six at
all In the west? NEXT year i. Don't, know okay
see putting them, Up, there denver we're putting them. Up
(10:19):
there we would have to Assume that Luca, the lakers
they're gonna make. A move we'll see what Happens. With
lebron they're gonna go big. Game hunting they're not gonna
settle and. Do nothing we'll put them. In, there houston
they've got to be. In there so That's four minnesota
they've probably got to be.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
In there.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
THAT'S five, i mean, you know we'll see what Happens With,
Steph curry we'll see what happens with what who else
is about missing In? The, west Oh The phoenix suns
are out kicking their coverage. This year they're. Playing fantastic so,
it's like, you know it's tough for me to envision
this team making a. Big lead but again we've seen
(10:56):
strangers who Had The detroit pistons with the. Best, RECORD
oh i forgot About. The spurs, come on they got
the second best record In. The West so utah currently
has the third worst record In, the west. Fifteen wins
they will retain their lottery pick. This year they gave
up two picks next year and next year's draft twenty seven,
not Great and utah is going to. Be better but
(11:17):
the leap from you, know what are they thirteenth In
the west to, like sixth that's a quantum leap. And
difficult not Even the pistons leapt to one. LAST year
i believe they were four or, five somewhere and they
remember they Played the knicks in the first round and
They Had. KATE cunningham i don't know who the alpha
star Is. On utah but they've, got SOMETHING and i
(11:38):
do want to applaud them for making. An effort so
a lot of moves ON the. Nba front and without,
further ado let's get to, Our Guest aaron SCHATZ.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
From Ftn Fox sports radio has the best sports talk
lineup in. The nation catch all of our shows At
foxsports radio dot com and Within the iHeartRadio app search
fs are to. Listen live you know, A guy jason
likes to think he knows everything when it comes.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
TO sports i know what sports, fans wants but for.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Everything, he doesn't he knows a guy.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Who does let's JUST say i know a guy who
knows the guy who knows. Another guy, all right let's
welcome back To. Straight. Fire Listen the patriots are In The.
Super bowl we thought it was going to be a
long time before they, got Here After tom brady Left and,
belichick left and now they're Back With drake May And.
Mike rabel so we got to bring in my, Main Man,
(12:33):
aaron shatz who is a Long time. Patriots, guy aaron
how excited are you That the patriots are back playing
In The.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Super bowl it's kind, of Wild like i'm not quite
sure it's quite hit me yet because we're all so used, To,
it Oh the patriots Of The, super bowl but this
is just a completely different teat like they went into
the drags and then rebuilt. So, fast yeah and went
from four to thirteen to fourteen. And three it's kind.
Of wild it's.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
CRAZY now i, will say there's a perfect tiding for
Everything with belichick getting snubbed Of the Hall. Of fame
obviously we'll get to, the Game and craft didn't get
Into the Hall of. Fame either i'm. JUST curious i
haven't seen you really chime in. ON this i don't
know how much Of a Hall of fame guy. YOU
are i was taken aback By the, belichick news As
With patrick Mahomes and Lebron And tom brady. And others
(13:21):
what do you make? Of This This Craft belichick Hall of?
Fame snaffoo shall?
Speaker 3 (13:25):
WE say i feel like My Man mike tanier has
said all the THINGS that i would say. About this
he Follows the Hall of fame MORE than. I do
i think the most part this is about the, voting
rules and the voting rules don't, make sense and the
constant moves That the Hall of fame has made to
make fewer and fewer people get Into the Hall of
(13:48):
fame of a sport where there are twenty two people
on the field at, all times and there really need
to Be more Hall, of famers. Not FEWER so i
think everybody will Vote for belichick, next year and having
been completely embarrassed by, THIS craft i have, no idea
But whether belichick gets in or not should not be
(14:09):
tied To Whether ken Anderson And roger craig. Get it
it doesn't make. Any, sense yeah make it.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Make sense it just looks goofy when, they're, like yeah
you Gotta Go roger Craig Over, Bill belichick like on.
NO level, i mean you're the guy who says coaches
and quarterbacks being everything like a. Running back it's.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Just GOOFY but i understand it because the idea is
when you get a shot to vote for one of these,
classic players you don't know when you're gonna get that,
shot again because the rules are so like byzantine that, it's,
like oh this might be the only chance to put
Him in Hall. Of fame they need to make it
easier for, one thing like they made it so they're
(14:45):
not even sure there's gonna be five of the regular
guys who make it in. Every year there have to
be at least five of the regular guys who make
it in, every year otherwise you just you get these
huge backlogs of wide receivers and, edge like just so
many guys who are waiting and waiting and waiting to
get Into the Hall.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Of fame are You Surprised eli manning did not?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Get, IN no, I mean eli is a whole, debate about,
you know the fact that he really wasn't that good
during his career except for like one season during the.
Regular season but obviously he's got The Two super. Bowl
runs but part of the Story with eli is the.
Same thing it's that these guys are competing with each
other and guys have to wait to get in because
(15:27):
other guys have been waiting for a.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Long, time yeah, all right let's get to. The game
it's kind of a. WEIRD one i don't think Anybody,
Had Seattle new england going To The. SUPER bowl i
believe this is.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
The biggest Long Shot super bowl of since they started
tracking what the preseason. Odds Were the seahawks were sixty
to one And the patriots were eighty. To.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
One, wow now what makes it? Even stranger neither made
their playoffs? Last year AND dare, I, SAY aaron i
don't think either of these teams. ARE great i certainly
don't Think the patriots. Are great this is the Craziest
that i've heard On. The patriots so they played seventeen regular.
Season games have you noticed eleven of those games were
played against teams that ended up losing their coach either
(16:11):
firing or quote unquote parting.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Of ways eleven.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Of, SEVENTEEN now i know some of your numbers say
this was the, weakest schedule maybe of. The century what
do you make Of the?
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Patriots Schedule the patriots, schedule was in fact the weakest
schedule of. The century it. Really was it was the
weakest since the nineteen Ninety. Nine rams and that's, okay,
because yeah by the end of, the year they were
stomping on those. Bad. Opponents right the thing About the patriots,
this year besides, the schedule is that they got better
(16:44):
as the year. Went along so by the end of
the year they were a. Top team once you take
those first couple weeks and kind of move them out of,
the equation so they.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Got better we checked. That box but in, The Playoffs drake.
MAYS numbers i think he's at fifty eight. Percent completions
like people don't want to accept they, were, like well,
THE weather i mean it was only one bad Half.
AGAINST denver i Don't recall houston's game being in terrible,
weather although.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
But not that big. A deal mostly their defense just came.
To play their defense played really well in those. Playoff
games but you are, Absolutely Right drake may has not
been as good in the playoffs as he was during the.
Regular season it's.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Absolutely, true now what can we attribute? That to just playing?
Elite defenses by, The way seattle has an, elite defense
or is it that, you know young quarterbacks in the
first playoffs kind, of stink or is the shoulder. AND
issue i don't any, of it all.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
OF it i think it's more of the, elite defenses
and in Particular, With Houston will Anderson Owning will Campbell.
And seattle the One thing seattle doesn't have is they
don't have an edge rusher as Good As will Anderson
Or nick benito to Go After will campbell on that.
Left side, but yeah some of it is, Just look
(18:00):
may only played one regular season game against a team
that was in my top ten for, pass defense and That,
was cleveland and we had a very good Game. Against
Cleveland but cleveland's a different issue because you know they're
not gonna score. Against you suddenly you get to the
playoffs and every team he's playing is a top ten,
pass defense, and yeah he hasn't been.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
As good now. IT'S interesting i saw the Stat that,
mike McDonald the, seattle coach has been so good against
young quarterbacks in the last. Two years quarterbacks under the
age of. Twenty five they are one to nine, against
McDonald and they have seven touchdown passes and, twelve picks
and they've been sacked. Thirty times the only quarterback under
(18:42):
the age of. TWENTY five i don't know why they picked.
Twenty five maybe because it makes it look good To
beat mike McDonald's Defense Is. Brock. Purdy now is that
do you think attributed to McDonald's schemes and the confusion
of where the pass rush is, coming from or is
that just, just yeah he doesn't. Mean much it's. Young
quarterbacks they.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
ALWAYS stink i think some of it is probably a nation.
Of those some of it is Just that seattle was
so good this year that they, beat everybody and some
of it is maybe that he's he is more of a. Scheme.
Guy right the difference Between the houston defense And the
seattle defense was That the houston defense, was like we
have these, great players And the seattle defense has really,
(19:17):
good players but it feels much more like it's a.
Scheme defense it's based on. THE scheme i, will say
you said you don't think the teams are that good.
This year my Numbers say seattle is a historically. Good
team they have been really dominant all season long against.
Good opponents they had one Loss To tampa bay where
they really Outplayed the buccaneers and just got unlucky and lost. That,
(19:41):
game obviously they had the fourteen wins during the. Regular
season they are one of the top TEAMS in, dvoa
history and their Game Against san francisco In the divisional
round was the best single game of the year by.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Any, team okay, hold, on now is this overall team
or specifically?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Defense overall but because, of defense their defense is like
thirteenth best in the database back to. Seventy eight their
special teams were second in the league, this year Behind,
the jets who the only thing they could do with,
special teams and their offense is, above average but, you know. Not.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Great interesting SO if i ask you who the best
player On the seattle defense off the top of, your
head who You? Got, Witherspoon whoa oh that was? That,
quick Okay because i'd see this team is like really good,
defensive players but no elite like, you, said No Will,
Anderson Williams, Leonard Williams DeMarcus.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Lawrence is a, little older, but yeah still. REALLY good
i think the top Two are Witherspoon And. Leonard Williams Also,
ERNEST jones i think.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
That, goodyear yeah. That's interesting, so like, for instance you
say they're one of the top TEAMS. Overall dvoa do
you have them ahead, of say Last year's.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Eagles, team yes oh yeah wow yeah and defense even,
in defense although Last year's, eagles team that defense wasn't
that good in the first. Five Weeks from week six
on was when that defense.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
WAS well i think they had two rookies, Right NOW
so i.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Think Last, year's eagles if you do week six to
the end of, the year would be a little bit
better than This.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Year's, seahawks yeah they had a lot of. YOUNG guys
I Mean jayllen carter was coming into his, Own.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Right john was a Rookie and mitchell was. A.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Rookie, Yeah INTERESTING but i, guess specifically can you tell
what it is about the McDonald's scheme that is, so
Perplexing because i'll tell you, Right Now matt stafford had
no problem with it in the final. TWO games i
think he had like. Eight touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
He kicked it. All around they're still closes. ABOUT that
i think blitzes come from, different, places guys and you don't.
Expect come the fact that they can play nickel all,
the time whether you run, or not means that they
don't have to worry about what your offensive personnel is going.
To be they are always in nickel Em and warri
(22:00):
goes back and forth, between slot corner. And linebacker they're
really good against, the run even. From nickel it just
gives them a lot.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Of flexibility so how do you think McDaniel's Attacks this
and is there any equivalent that they've seen similar to
this kind of. NICKEL defense i don't.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Think so if there's, an Equivalent It's derwin james being
a little equivalent to ev. AND worry i guess and
the sort of flexibility that. He PROVIDES but, I mean
i think they like to spread the, ball. Around Right
the seahawks are very so HEAVILY. On Jsn the patriots
are more of a spread the. Ball around. They'll Run
the seahawks do not allow. Explosive runs so if you're
(22:41):
waiting for The Big travon, henderson run, keep waiting it's probably.
Not coming they'll spread the, ball around, you know they'll
they'll count on me to get. IT out i think
quick game is a good way to Attack. The Seattle the.
Seattle defense, you know although they were good against, quick
game because they were good, against everything there's not any real.
(23:06):
TIGHT ends i guess they were SIXTEENTH in dboa against.
Tight ends so, you should, you know see a good
Amount Of hunter Henry and austin.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Who yes, SO yeah i did Bet Some austin hooper.
Last touchdown, You Know hunter henry overs just to, get
it because that's the one way you can. Attack it
but here's. My Thing if i'm talking about this and
you Are literally seattle knows, what's coming McDaniels. Knows that
it just feels a little, too obvious does.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
It, NOT yeah i mean it's a weird thing because
by the time you get to this point of, the
season you know what your own, weaknesses are but there's still.
Your weaknesses it's hard to completely paper over them right
em and worry for all the flexibility that he. Gives
them got targeted a lot, this year and you know
he was covering the tight ends a lot of. The
(23:51):
TIME so i think that's still a weakness. Of theirs
but there's not a lot. Of weaknesses there's not a
lot of things you can attack On the.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Seattle Defense Fox sports radio has the best sports talk
lineup in. The nation catch all of our shows At
foxsports radio dot com and Within the iHeartRadio APP search
fsr to. Listen live, all right so we Covered the.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Seattle defense let's go To the. PATRIOTS defense i saw
this stat that they have given up two touchdown drives
in the postseason thirty six drives and only two. Touchdowns
allowed now some of that, is Well the chargers didn't have,
their tackles which We. Knew houston they lose their Tight
end shultz in the, first half they lose their, left
tackle they Didn't Have, nego collins so It's disaster waiting,
(24:36):
to Happen and denver had a backup quarterback who really
didn't have any business started. That game how much of
that is circumstance and how much of It, Is Wow
the patriots defense is just spectacular.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Right now it's. A mix it's. A mix the important
thing is how they're, getting there because they're getting there,
through Blitzing and donald is weak against. The, Blitz okay
donald was like twenty THIRD in dvoa against blitzes, this
year and even Against the rams IN The nfc championship
game when he played, well overall he still was not
(25:07):
that good against. The blitz If the patriots are gonna win,
this game the storyline probably is that they blitz the
heck Out of donald and they turn it back into
the sea and. Ghosts guy THAT is i think much
more likely than the Idea that DRAKE may mvp candidate
or not outscores by going wild On the seattle defense
(25:27):
The way. STAFFORD has i don't think.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
That's likely is there a world, Where, this hey you
should bet no touchdowns for the entire game because this
could just be too, YOU know.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
I think that's. PRETTY unlikely, i mean the odds probably
say it's. Pretty, unlikely YEAH but i think it's.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Pretty unlikely that's the reason you kind of, bet, it Right,
BECAUSE hey i. DON'T know, I Mean sam donald's not
a top ten quarterback in.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
THIS life, I mean i like under MORE than i like. Overall,
times yes well.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
The unders plummetting now is ice. Forty FIVE but i,
don't know like everybody's Waiting for donald to turn Back
into oh that's the guy Who saw goes was terrible With,
the jets is with the bounce around the, League, GUY like,
i mean the, problem is if you've been betting that
this Season, with seattle you're losing a lot of money
because it just hasn't totally happened or the defense has bailed.
Him OUT but i, Don't know rabel's a pretty. Sharp
(26:14):
guy you can't run On this, patriots Defense so donald's
gonna have to win.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
The, game yeah you can run. On them they're not
a great, run defense Not like. Seattle is they're a good.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Run, defense well apparently the numbers are much Better since
williams got back.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
From, injury yes and also they're better when They Have
robert splaine in, the middle who also was injured for.
Those games Like when williams. WAS out i think that
there's a good Chance that donald doesn't turn back into
the seeing, ghosts guy that he has, a fine, reasonable game,
you know, although AGAIN like i, THINK this i like
(26:48):
the under in. This game but if there's, a story
the most likely storyline of how we're talking about this
game the, next morning If the, patriots win the most
likely storyline is the blitz Got.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
To donald, YES see i Told Just sam darnold's not.
That guy you, Know that, you're right that's probably the.
MOST likely i did see that of the seven most,
likely MVPs none of Them are patriots skill position guys
Other Than.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Drake, bay YEAH it's i think people still that's given
the way that they spread the ball around and use two. Running,
backs yeah what?
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Is that why why are they still Using too stevenson
kind of the Bulldozer and treyvon is more of the
quick hit guy the catch passes out, of there.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
More of the boom and bust break it long. Speed
guy and they're both good with blitz. Pick up so that's.
Not IT it's, i think, you know it keeps guys fresh.
To use the two Running backs seattle, uses too except
one of them, got injured so now. They're stuck.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
No.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
CHARBONNAY yeah i thought that would be a big problem Against,
the rams, you Know because charbone is the better blitz
pick up guy and they were issued on the. Left
tackle but they held up pretty pretty. PRETTY well, I
mean donalds had a, strong game help obviously by the
fumble punt which flipped.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
The, game yeah but, you know that is one of
those total random, you know. IT'S funny i talk about
talk so Much about seattle's advantage and, special Teams but
seattle didn't do anything to. GET that i just sat
there and let. It, happen yeah it, was there Just
the rams. Being bad, BUT NO i i it makes
sense to me that you don't see Any particular patriots
(28:18):
receiver or running back having a. BIG game i Sneaky
Like kenneth walker AS an mvp possibility because of the,
idea that, you know if if both quarterbacks have, mediocre games,
you Know maybe walker's running out the clock in the
fourth quarter and gets a lot of yards and they
don't want to GIVE the Mvp. To, darnold yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
It is it's a it's a Strange. Super bowl i'm
is there any data on offensive Coordinators Like, clint kubiak
who take a, job continue, you know as soon as
The world. Super.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
BOWLS oh i don't have any data on IT BECAUSE
i i don't.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
KNOW that i, mean again in his, mindset, is man
this is my first head. Coaching, JOB wow i got
to build, a staff, YOU know i got to Reach so,
LIKE again i know there's a lot. Of time, two
weeks plenty, of time but he's also got to be
reaching out, to people and that's time away from, you
know game Planning for. RABEL'S defense i.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Gotta think these guys are. Pretty professional he knows what.
This is it's The. Super bowl HE'S not i can't
imagine he's taking too much. Time away but it's an.
Interesting question.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
I'm, just, OVERALL yeah i guess it's a tough one.
For you but like my kids, are, like wait who's
in The Super. Bowl seahawks people don't really know this team,
that well big.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Name players they don't. Have stars there's no one On
the seahawks who's, a. Personality right their best PLAYER. Is
jsn what do you Know about. JSN'S personality i know
he's kind, of RELIGIOUS but i don't. REALLY know i
don't really know much about. The guy he had a
brother who. PLAYED baseball i don't know much about the guy.
AT all i don't know Much About. LEONARD williams i
don't know Much About. Devin WITHERS like i just these
(29:53):
guys are. Not personalities they're like the opposite of the Eighty,
five bears.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
A legion to boom when they showed Up At. Super
bowl they're talking. Trash hitting everybody, knew them, you know
even you look at like the Last Five. Super bowls,
You Know matt, Stafford finally like that's one of The
things i'm like. Confused with, it's like what's the best,
Storyline Here sam. DARNOLD'S redemption, i, mean listen Let's.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Bed may, You know may re Establishing the patriots After SECOND.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
So i know he's. Your guy he's so boring and
dully married is like middle.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
School sweetheart HE'S still, i mean the biggest personalities in
this game are Still are May And.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Stefan, Diggs Oh stefan diggs is insufferable, with this uh
four kids with four women, and LIKE but.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
I mean, you know one of the top musicians in.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
THE country i guess. YOU'RE right i, mean overall so
you like THE under i see it's between four and
a half.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
And. FIVE yeah i Like the seahawks to win And
the patriots to cover.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
In a low. Scoring, game interesting uh both Besides The?
Super bowl, REAL quick I have mike McDaniel as the
best offensive coordinator higher or the best coordinator higher in.
The cycle any thoughts on. That one chargers getting a
pretty sharp Mind.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
For miami you gotta remember also they're bringing back the
two tackles. Next Year that chargers offense should be between
McDaniel and his creative run plays And for hampton and
then having the two, TACKLES back i got to think
their offense takes a big step forward. Next year they're
like a seriously.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Good contender biggest surprise for you in the, coaching cycle
whether it's, you know ten coaches hired zero, black guys
Whether It's jeff Halfley, to miami which that caught me
by surprise given his Struggles Without michael parsons at the
end of, The Season kevin stefanski getting. ANOTHER shot i
think it's a good One. In atlanta anything jump out, At,
YOU eric.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
I mean i think that if they had if McDermott
had been fired a, week earlier they would have ended
up With either Stefanski or Harbaugh And. BUFF flow I
think flores would have been a really. Great CANDIDATE and
i just don't know how much the lawsuit plays into
the idea that he's not getting a head. Coaching Job
And michael flora doesn't. Excite anybody he feels like generic
(32:16):
dude coming out of The McVeigh. Shanahan CAMP and i
feel a little bit like what the league needs to
do is get McVeigh and shanahan to Hire More african
american assistants because that's where all the head coaches are coming. From,
now yeah so that's a. Good point we need more
guys Not named kubiak to run.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Those, systems, YEAH well, i mean You know kubiak to.
An extent Remember wasn't Kubiak With new orleans? Last, year
yeah and.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
They were really good And then carr got hurt and
they went and that they just were horrible.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
After, that yeah he went FROM and i think they,
fired him did?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
THEY not i think They, or no they got rid
of the whole staff the, same right because they Went
To kellen morris the. Head coach he obviously was going
to run the offense because he's an, offensive Guy so
kubiak does to. Stick.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Around right so a year ago at, This time kubiak
was basically Dusted In, New orleans and now, it's like oh,
my Gosh the Cardinals and raiders are fighting Over A.
Clint kuby how crazy?
Speaker 3 (33:15):
Is that he's done a. Good job but it's it's it's.
A combination if he's done a good job and he
comes out of this system that we know seems to
run really, good offenses and if You're the raiders and
you're going to draft a quarterback, number one it just
makes a lot. Of, sense yeah it does make a lot.
Of sense it makes more Sense Than, micha LAFLEUR who
i believe has never. Called plays McVeigh calls.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
The, plays yeah it didn't go Well for laflora With,
the jets, All Right AARON jets ftn, listen man congrats
On your patriots getting back to the. BIG game i,
Don't know Maybe the jets can make a playoff appearance
at some POINT and i can.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Get, excited yeah it's it's it's kind of unfair that
we've done this while so many other teams. Are waiting,
you Know the cowboys haven't been to the conference champampionship
game in thirty years, or whatever, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
It is they.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
Did go this is a whole. NEW team i don't
think anybody has left over from the last time that
they Made The. Super bowl it's a whole new team
and they just rebuilt tremendously fast and then had some
good luck with who they played in the playoffs and here.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
We, are yeah, all, right eron have a great one to.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Enjoy it thanks a lot
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntire.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up Fire, Bam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight
Boyer for Wednesday, February the fourth.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Boy.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I did not even know the Pro Bowl happened last night. Honestly,
I'm scrolling on social media after the Lakers beat down
of the Brooklyn Nets. Holy hell, that was a forty
point game in the third quarter. I mean it was
like thirty in the first half. And I see these
highlights from what looked like the Pro Bowl. I'm like, wait,
they moved the Pro Bowl to Tuesday. I who knew?
(00:42):
But sorry, we can't talk about that. We got a
great interview with Aaron Shatz from FTN. He is a
Patriots fan, so he's naturally very very excited, and listen,
I'm not excited as a Jets fan that the New
England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl. We break
everything down. He like, is on the under. I did
write up the under for my little newsletter thingy. It's
(01:05):
gone down from forty six and a half to forty
six to forty five and a half to forty five.
I don't think it'll diplow with in that, but you know,
the ample evidence. We'll get all into it later in
the week, but before we get to Aaron Shatz, the
NBA trade deadline is Thursday, and everybody was like, well,
I don't think there's gonna be a lot of action.
There's not gonna be a ton of player movement. I
(01:25):
cannot imagine that a ton of action is gonna happen.
And then just kaboom left and right, chaos reiins. I mean, goodness, gracious,
you got trades basically all day. You got Jaren Jackson
going from Memphis to Utah and an eight player deal,
Jade and Ivy. The Pistons officially said we're throwing in
(01:47):
the towel. And this kid out of Purdue, he was
averaging seventeen a game last year, shop forty percent from three.
Then he had the broken leg and then just like
we're done. And then you had the Celtics and Bulls
doing a swap, Celtics saving money. And then the big one,
you know, it almost happened on Monday night, and then
it officially goes down on Tuesday. James Harden is traded
(02:10):
for what feels like the tenth time in his career.
He's going from the paper clips to Cleveland and he
in exchange for Darius Garland. I believe a second round
pick was tossed in there, folks. It's one of the
quieter big name trades. I mean, James Harden for a
decade has been one of the ten twelve biggest names
(02:31):
in the league. He's still a very good player. He
is just not a superstar. Lead scorer in thirty a game,
one of the league leaders, and he is thirty six
years old. He is going to a Cleveland team where
I don't know, is this the worst defensive backcourt of
a good team in the league. And I know some
people instantly say, well, what about Reeves. By the way,
(02:52):
Austin Reeves returned last night for the Lakers. What about
Reeves and Luca Well, that's not a great defensive backcourt.
But James Harden is jgitimately a turnstile. And I would
say Donovan Mitchell is not known as a plus defender
at all. We'll just quickly examine this one. So this
is how the season went. The Clippers started so horribly
(03:16):
that all signs point to James Harden was just like,
I'm done. I don't want to go out like this.
It's over you gotta trade me. So he was kind
of sour. He was putting up okay numbers, and then
weirdly they turn it around. They win seventeen of twenty
one games, and you'd think, okay, maybe hard AND's fine.
But clearly he had made up his mind. Maybe the
Chris Paul thing pissed him off. Where they ship Cris Paul,
(03:38):
I don't know. Very strange. Now the Calves are the
only team over the second Apron, and they clearly are like, listen,
we've got to impress Donovan Mitchell to keep him around.
What can we do. Let's get rid of Donovan, sorry,
Darius Garland and both of his big toes which have
been hurt and he's been missing a lot of time.
(03:58):
Let's just bring on James Harden. Let's just do it.
And the Clippers are like, oh, we can save almost
a million dollars to get below the first Apron deal.
I this isn't quite rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,
but it does feel like I just the Clippers are
kind of lost at this point. Remember, Kawhi has a
(04:23):
major injury history. Darius Garland right now hasn't played nothing
two weeks he might come back soon, and they don't
have their first round pick. It goes to Okac. So
there's a world where oh Man, Garland's Toekawhi and all
of a sudden they got nothing and they look as
bad as the Nets in the second half and okay
See gets a top five pick out of it. That
(04:43):
could actually happen. I don't think this materially makes the
Calves that much better. I mean, maybe you stagger the lineups,
so you have Harden coming off the bench in like
a sixth man roll and he's cooking and dishing and
everything works great off the bench, you know, in like
a twenty five thirty minute a game guy, and they
can make the playoffs and they've got more balance. That
(05:05):
could easily happen. I just don't see them as one
of the four best teams in the East right now.
And remember the Celtics are depleted because Jason Tatum's not
coming back, and I know Celtics fans think, oh, he
might come back. He could. He hasn't ruled it out
just to stop. You don't want him to force his
way back for what a second round exit, that's just goofy.
And then next year Haliburton comes back, and oh, by
(05:26):
the way, the Indiana Pacers are gonna have a high
draft pick. They're gonna be very good again. The Knicks
they're not going anywhere. We'll see what happens with the honest.
So the Cavs, it ain't happening this year. Then you've
got the Donovan Mitchell stuff. Their Hail Mary could be Hey, Donovan,
we're pushing all our chips in the middle. And as
I speculated yesterday, it's funny now other websites and other
(05:49):
social media accounts and reporters are like, oh, there's a
world where I think it was Tom Haberstrow, like he
was at ESPN years ago, and I don't remember where
he is NBC. Maybe I think he's come on the
pot once. But he's now putting out there what we
said last night that yeah, this could easily be Lebron
plus Jannis plus Mitchell plus Harden in the offseason. The
(06:12):
question is does Jannis get traded before then? Now as
times winding down, the shot clock is under ten now
to do him at the deadline. And this is the
one thing that gets interesting all of a sudden, you know,
we heard Giannis four to six, a video emerges of
Giannis at practice doing side shuffles and getting up shots
(06:32):
and to me that screamed, hey, guys.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Look look at me.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I'm healthy, I can play. I'm close to coming back.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Trade for me now.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I don't want to sit out the rest of the season,
because that's pretty much what the Bucks would do, right.
They would tank. They don't want Jannis to risk getting injured.
Nobody's trading for him if he has a serious injury
in a meaningless season. So my guess is Jannis wants
to get dealt It makes more sense in the summer.
But I think Giannis wants out. He doesn't want to
sit around and not play basketball for the rest to
the season. So that then now the Bucks have to
(07:03):
deal with that. What if Jannis gets antsy and it's like, guys,
please get me the hell out of here. His character
doesn't say that he would do that, But I wonder
if this hard thing is Gianni's just saying, please just
ship me. But he who says he's signing with Cleveland Minnesota,
by the way, a team I didn't think could seriously
pull it off. They got rid of Mike Conley in
(07:24):
a trade he goes it was one of these let's
see where it is. So Mike Conley goes to the
Bulls with Jade and Ivy, and essentially Minnesota is making
a move here just to get out of the luxury
tax or are in a more advantageous position to make
(07:44):
a run at a star like a Yiannis. They still
got work to do the other before we get to
my guy to talk NFL. I just want to quickly
go look at this Utah Jazz thing. I don't know
what Utah's building, but I gotta I gotta give them
props for at least trying. They are putting forth an effort.
(08:07):
It looked like just another Utah Jazz tank. Or hey,
maybe we'll trade Lowry market and you know, we'll see
what we're gonna do. No, they're kind of going all in.
They're saying, hey, we are gonna go with the Houston
Rockets slash Cleveland Cavaliers strategy of we're going big or
we're going home. And they now have a frontline of
(08:30):
Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson, and Lowry Markinen. That's I believe
seven one six eleven six' Eleven Lourie markin at the small. Forward,
Now marketing is not a great, defender but those two
Guys kesler And jackson on the back line is really.
Nice the problem is you need guards to actually bring
the ball up the court and facilitate. Offense Keyante george
(08:53):
is a budding. BALLER i mean that guy could get.
Buckets See i've watched him play The lakers twice this,
season and he is just a. Machine he is a scoring.
Machine and their hope is in a year or, Two
Ace bailey. Emerges you, know he's still a teenager they
get From. Rutgers he had the, ugly ugly offseason and
that a mess with the. Agent he's cleaned it. Up
he's got to be able to shoot the. Three but
(09:15):
they are looking At remember when The Houston rockets Got
Kevin durant and then they're, like, oh we could Put Amen,
Thompson Terry, Eason Jamari, SMITH kd The. Sengon we could
put all these guys like six' nine is our, smallest
guy and we're gonna get every rebound and offensive rebounds.
Are there they're. JUST dominating i think number one in
the League With. Steven adams that was before, his injury
(09:36):
And the cavaliers said we're gonna do it differently, last
year and they went with the two big Strategy Of
jared Allen And, evan mobley and it worked for. A
while everything was, going swimmingly and this year it just hasn't.
Really Worked mobile he's been a. Little hurt, YOU know
i don't really want to bash the strategy because At
least utah. Is trying they're trying to do something like
(09:59):
everyone else feels like they're just trying to make moves
to get unto the. Salary cap you tell, us like
now you, know what we're gonna actually. Try here we're
gonna try to. Win games and now the problem is
Are they does this move make them top six at
all In the west? NEXT year i. Don't, know okay
see putting them, Up, there denver we're putting them. Up
(10:19):
there we would have to Assume that Luca, the lakers
they're gonna make. A move we'll see what Happens. With
lebron they're gonna go big. Game hunting they're not gonna
settle and. Do nothing we'll put them. In, there houston
they've got to be. In there so That's four minnesota
they've probably got to be.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
In there.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
THAT'S five, i mean, you know we'll see what Happens With,
Steph curry we'll see what happens with what who else
is about missing In? The, west Oh The phoenix suns
are out kicking their coverage. This year they're. Playing fantastic so,
it's like, you know it's tough for me to envision
this team making a. Big lead but again we've seen
(10:56):
strangers who Had The detroit pistons with the. Best, RECORD
oh i forgot About. The spurs, come on they got
the second best record In. The West so utah currently
has the third worst record In, the west. Fifteen wins
they will retain their lottery pick. This year they gave
up two picks next year and next year's draft twenty seven,
not Great and utah is going to. Be better but
(11:17):
the leap from you, know what are they thirteenth In
the west to, like sixth that's a quantum leap. And
difficult not Even the pistons leapt to one. LAST year
i believe they were four or, five somewhere and they
remember they Played the knicks in the first round and
They Had. KATE cunningham i don't know who the alpha
star Is. On utah but they've, got SOMETHING and i
(11:38):
do want to applaud them for making. An effort so
a lot of moves ON the. Nba front and without,
further ado let's get to, Our Guest aaron SCHATZ.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
From Ftn Fox sports radio has the best sports talk
lineup in. The nation catch all of our shows At
foxsports radio dot com and Within the iHeartRadio app search
fs are to. Listen live you know, A guy jason
likes to think he knows everything when it comes.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
TO sports i know what sports, fans wants but for.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Everything, he doesn't he knows a guy.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Who does let's JUST say i know a guy who
knows the guy who knows. Another guy, all right let's
welcome back To. Straight. Fire Listen the patriots are In The.
Super bowl we thought it was going to be a
long time before they, got Here After tom brady Left and,
belichick left and now they're Back With drake May And.
Mike rabel so we got to bring in my, Main Man,
(12:33):
aaron shatz who is a Long time. Patriots, guy aaron
how excited are you That the patriots are back playing
In The.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Super bowl it's kind, of Wild like i'm not quite
sure it's quite hit me yet because we're all so used, To,
it Oh the patriots Of The, super bowl but this
is just a completely different teat like they went into
the drags and then rebuilt. So, fast yeah and went
from four to thirteen to fourteen. And three it's kind.
Of wild it's.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
CRAZY now i, will say there's a perfect tiding for
Everything with belichick getting snubbed Of the Hall. Of fame
obviously we'll get to, the Game and craft didn't get
Into the Hall of. Fame either i'm. JUST curious i
haven't seen you really chime in. ON this i don't
know how much Of a Hall of fame guy. YOU
are i was taken aback By the, belichick news As
With patrick Mahomes and Lebron And tom brady. And others
(13:21):
what do you make? Of This This Craft belichick Hall of?
Fame snaffoo shall?
Speaker 3 (13:25):
WE say i feel like My Man mike tanier has
said all the THINGS that i would say. About this
he Follows the Hall of fame MORE than. I do
i think the most part this is about the, voting
rules and the voting rules don't, make sense and the
constant moves That the Hall of fame has made to
make fewer and fewer people get Into the Hall of
(13:48):
fame of a sport where there are twenty two people
on the field at, all times and there really need
to Be more Hall, of famers. Not FEWER so i
think everybody will Vote for belichick, next year and having
been completely embarrassed by, THIS craft i have, no idea
But whether belichick gets in or not should not be
(14:09):
tied To Whether ken Anderson And roger craig. Get it
it doesn't make. Any, sense yeah make it.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Make sense it just looks goofy when, they're, like yeah
you Gotta Go roger Craig Over, Bill belichick like on.
NO level, i mean you're the guy who says coaches
and quarterbacks being everything like a. Running back it's.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Just GOOFY but i understand it because the idea is
when you get a shot to vote for one of these,
classic players you don't know when you're gonna get that,
shot again because the rules are so like byzantine that, it's,
like oh this might be the only chance to put
Him in Hall. Of fame they need to make it
easier for, one thing like they made it so they're
(14:45):
not even sure there's gonna be five of the regular
guys who make it in. Every year there have to
be at least five of the regular guys who make
it in, every year otherwise you just you get these
huge backlogs of wide receivers and, edge like just so
many guys who are waiting and waiting and waiting to
get Into the Hall.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Of fame are You Surprised eli manning did not?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Get, IN no, I mean eli is a whole, debate about,
you know the fact that he really wasn't that good
during his career except for like one season during the.
Regular season but obviously he's got The Two super. Bowl
runs but part of the Story with eli is the.
Same thing it's that these guys are competing with each
other and guys have to wait to get in because
(15:27):
other guys have been waiting for a.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Long, time yeah, all right let's get to. The game
it's kind of a. WEIRD one i don't think Anybody,
Had Seattle new england going To The. SUPER bowl i
believe this is.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
The biggest Long Shot super bowl of since they started
tracking what the preseason. Odds Were the seahawks were sixty
to one And the patriots were eighty. To.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
One, wow now what makes it? Even stranger neither made
their playoffs? Last year AND dare, I, SAY aaron i
don't think either of these teams. ARE great i certainly
don't Think the patriots. Are great this is the Craziest
that i've heard On. The patriots so they played seventeen regular.
Season games have you noticed eleven of those games were
played against teams that ended up losing their coach either
(16:11):
firing or quote unquote parting.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Of ways eleven.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Of, SEVENTEEN now i know some of your numbers say
this was the, weakest schedule maybe of. The century what
do you make Of the?
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Patriots Schedule the patriots, schedule was in fact the weakest
schedule of. The century it. Really was it was the
weakest since the nineteen Ninety. Nine rams and that's, okay,
because yeah by the end of, the year they were
stomping on those. Bad. Opponents right the thing About the patriots,
this year besides, the schedule is that they got better
(16:44):
as the year. Went along so by the end of
the year they were a. Top team once you take
those first couple weeks and kind of move them out of,
the equation so they.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Got better we checked. That box but in, The Playoffs drake.
MAYS numbers i think he's at fifty eight. Percent completions
like people don't want to accept they, were, like well,
THE weather i mean it was only one bad Half.
AGAINST denver i Don't recall houston's game being in terrible,
weather although.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
But not that big. A deal mostly their defense just came.
To play their defense played really well in those. Playoff
games but you are, Absolutely Right drake may has not
been as good in the playoffs as he was during the.
Regular season it's.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Absolutely, true now what can we attribute? That to just playing?
Elite defenses by, The way seattle has an, elite defense
or is it that, you know young quarterbacks in the
first playoffs kind, of stink or is the shoulder. AND
issue i don't any, of it all.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
OF it i think it's more of the, elite defenses
and in Particular, With Houston will Anderson Owning will Campbell.
And seattle the One thing seattle doesn't have is they
don't have an edge rusher as Good As will Anderson
Or nick benito to Go After will campbell on that.
Left side, but yeah some of it is, Just look
(18:00):
may only played one regular season game against a team
that was in my top ten for, pass defense and That,
was cleveland and we had a very good Game. Against
Cleveland but cleveland's a different issue because you know they're
not gonna score. Against you suddenly you get to the
playoffs and every team he's playing is a top ten,
pass defense, and yeah he hasn't been.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
As good now. IT'S interesting i saw the Stat that,
mike McDonald the, seattle coach has been so good against
young quarterbacks in the last. Two years quarterbacks under the
age of. Twenty five they are one to nine, against
McDonald and they have seven touchdown passes and, twelve picks
and they've been sacked. Thirty times the only quarterback under
(18:42):
the age of. TWENTY five i don't know why they picked.
Twenty five maybe because it makes it look good To
beat mike McDonald's Defense Is. Brock. Purdy now is that
do you think attributed to McDonald's schemes and the confusion
of where the pass rush is, coming from or is
that just, just yeah he doesn't. Mean much it's. Young
quarterbacks they.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
ALWAYS stink i think some of it is probably a nation.
Of those some of it is Just that seattle was
so good this year that they, beat everybody and some
of it is maybe that he's he is more of a. Scheme.
Guy right the difference Between the houston defense And the
seattle defense was That the houston defense, was like we
have these, great players And the seattle defense has really,
(19:17):
good players but it feels much more like it's a.
Scheme defense it's based on. THE scheme i, will say
you said you don't think the teams are that good.
This year my Numbers say seattle is a historically. Good
team they have been really dominant all season long against.
Good opponents they had one Loss To tampa bay where
they really Outplayed the buccaneers and just got unlucky and lost. That,
(19:41):
game obviously they had the fourteen wins during the. Regular
season they are one of the top TEAMS in, dvoa
history and their Game Against san francisco In the divisional
round was the best single game of the year by.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Any, team okay, hold, on now is this overall team
or specifically?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Defense overall but because, of defense their defense is like
thirteenth best in the database back to. Seventy eight their
special teams were second in the league, this year Behind,
the jets who the only thing they could do with,
special teams and their offense is, above average but, you know. Not.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Great interesting SO if i ask you who the best
player On the seattle defense off the top of, your
head who You? Got, Witherspoon whoa oh that was? That,
quick Okay because i'd see this team is like really good,
defensive players but no elite like, you, said No Will,
Anderson Williams, Leonard Williams DeMarcus.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Lawrence is a, little older, but yeah still. REALLY good
i think the top Two are Witherspoon And. Leonard Williams Also,
ERNEST jones i think.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
That, goodyear yeah. That's interesting, so like, for instance you
say they're one of the top TEAMS. Overall dvoa do
you have them ahead, of say Last year's.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Eagles, team yes oh yeah wow yeah and defense even,
in defense although Last year's, eagles team that defense wasn't
that good in the first. Five Weeks from week six
on was when that defense.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
WAS well i think they had two rookies, Right NOW
so i.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Think Last, year's eagles if you do week six to
the end of, the year would be a little bit
better than This.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Year's, seahawks yeah they had a lot of. YOUNG guys
I Mean jayllen carter was coming into his, Own.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Right john was a Rookie and mitchell was. A.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Rookie, Yeah INTERESTING but i, guess specifically can you tell
what it is about the McDonald's scheme that is, so
Perplexing because i'll tell you, Right Now matt stafford had
no problem with it in the final. TWO games i
think he had like. Eight touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
He kicked it. All around they're still closes. ABOUT that
i think blitzes come from, different, places guys and you don't.
Expect come the fact that they can play nickel all,
the time whether you run, or not means that they
don't have to worry about what your offensive personnel is going.
To be they are always in nickel Em and warri
(22:00):
goes back and forth, between slot corner. And linebacker they're
really good against, the run even. From nickel it just
gives them a lot.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Of flexibility so how do you think McDaniel's Attacks this
and is there any equivalent that they've seen similar to
this kind of. NICKEL defense i don't.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Think so if there's, an Equivalent It's derwin james being
a little equivalent to ev. AND worry i guess and
the sort of flexibility that. He PROVIDES but, I mean
i think they like to spread the, ball. Around Right
the seahawks are very so HEAVILY. On Jsn the patriots
are more of a spread the. Ball around. They'll Run
the seahawks do not allow. Explosive runs so if you're
(22:41):
waiting for The Big travon, henderson run, keep waiting it's probably.
Not coming they'll spread the, ball around, you know they'll
they'll count on me to get. IT out i think
quick game is a good way to Attack. The Seattle the.
Seattle defense, you know although they were good against, quick
game because they were good, against everything there's not any real.
(23:06):
TIGHT ends i guess they were SIXTEENTH in dboa against.
Tight ends so, you should, you know see a good
Amount Of hunter Henry and austin.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Who yes, SO yeah i did Bet Some austin hooper.
Last touchdown, You Know hunter henry overs just to, get
it because that's the one way you can. Attack it
but here's. My Thing if i'm talking about this and
you Are literally seattle knows, what's coming McDaniels. Knows that
it just feels a little, too obvious does.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
It, NOT yeah i mean it's a weird thing because
by the time you get to this point of, the
season you know what your own, weaknesses are but there's still.
Your weaknesses it's hard to completely paper over them right
em and worry for all the flexibility that he. Gives
them got targeted a lot, this year and you know
he was covering the tight ends a lot of. The
(23:51):
TIME so i think that's still a weakness. Of theirs
but there's not a lot. Of weaknesses there's not a
lot of things you can attack On the.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Seattle Defense Fox sports radio has the best sports talk
lineup in. The nation catch all of our shows At
foxsports radio dot com and Within the iHeartRadio APP search
fsr to. Listen live, all right so we Covered the.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Seattle defense let's go To the. PATRIOTS defense i saw
this stat that they have given up two touchdown drives
in the postseason thirty six drives and only two. Touchdowns
allowed now some of that, is Well the chargers didn't have,
their tackles which We. Knew houston they lose their Tight
end shultz in the, first half they lose their, left
tackle they Didn't Have, nego collins so It's disaster waiting,
(24:36):
to Happen and denver had a backup quarterback who really
didn't have any business started. That game how much of
that is circumstance and how much of It, Is Wow
the patriots defense is just spectacular.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Right now it's. A mix it's. A mix the important
thing is how they're, getting there because they're getting there,
through Blitzing and donald is weak against. The, Blitz okay
donald was like twenty THIRD in dvoa against blitzes, this
year and even Against the rams IN The nfc championship
game when he played, well overall he still was not
(25:07):
that good against. The blitz If the patriots are gonna win,
this game the storyline probably is that they blitz the
heck Out of donald and they turn it back into
the sea and. Ghosts guy THAT is i think much
more likely than the Idea that DRAKE may mvp candidate
or not outscores by going wild On the seattle defense
(25:27):
The way. STAFFORD has i don't think.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
That's likely is there a world, Where, this hey you
should bet no touchdowns for the entire game because this
could just be too, YOU know.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
I think that's. PRETTY unlikely, i mean the odds probably
say it's. Pretty, unlikely YEAH but i think it's.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Pretty unlikely that's the reason you kind of, bet, it Right,
BECAUSE hey i. DON'T know, I Mean sam donald's not
a top ten quarterback in.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
THIS life, I mean i like under MORE than i like. Overall,
times yes well.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
The unders plummetting now is ice. Forty FIVE but i,
don't know like everybody's Waiting for donald to turn Back
into oh that's the guy Who saw goes was terrible With,
the jets is with the bounce around the, League, GUY like,
i mean the, problem is if you've been betting that
this Season, with seattle you're losing a lot of money
because it just hasn't totally happened or the defense has bailed.
Him OUT but i, Don't know rabel's a pretty. Sharp
(26:14):
guy you can't run On this, patriots Defense so donald's
gonna have to win.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
The, game yeah you can run. On them they're not
a great, run defense Not like. Seattle is they're a good.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Run, defense well apparently the numbers are much Better since
williams got back.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
From, injury yes and also they're better when They Have
robert splaine in, the middle who also was injured for.
Those games Like when williams. WAS out i think that
there's a good Chance that donald doesn't turn back into
the seeing, ghosts guy that he has, a fine, reasonable game,
you know, although AGAIN like i, THINK this i like
(26:48):
the under in. This game but if there's, a story
the most likely storyline of how we're talking about this
game the, next morning If the, patriots win the most
likely storyline is the blitz Got.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
To donald, YES see i Told Just sam darnold's not.
That guy you, Know that, you're right that's probably the.
MOST likely i did see that of the seven most,
likely MVPs none of Them are patriots skill position guys
Other Than.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Drake, bay YEAH it's i think people still that's given
the way that they spread the ball around and use two. Running,
backs yeah what?
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Is that why why are they still Using too stevenson
kind of the Bulldozer and treyvon is more of the
quick hit guy the catch passes out, of there.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
More of the boom and bust break it long. Speed
guy and they're both good with blitz. Pick up so that's.
Not IT it's, i think, you know it keeps guys fresh.
To use the two Running backs seattle, uses too except
one of them, got injured so now. They're stuck.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
No.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
CHARBONNAY yeah i thought that would be a big problem Against,
the rams, you Know because charbone is the better blitz
pick up guy and they were issued on the. Left
tackle but they held up pretty pretty. PRETTY well, I
mean donalds had a, strong game help obviously by the
fumble punt which flipped.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
The, game yeah but, you know that is one of
those total random, you know. IT'S funny i talk about
talk so Much about seattle's advantage and, special Teams but
seattle didn't do anything to. GET that i just sat
there and let. It, happen yeah it, was there Just
the rams. Being bad, BUT NO i i it makes
sense to me that you don't see Any particular patriots
(28:18):
receiver or running back having a. BIG game i Sneaky
Like kenneth walker AS an mvp possibility because of the,
idea that, you know if if both quarterbacks have, mediocre games,
you Know maybe walker's running out the clock in the
fourth quarter and gets a lot of yards and they
don't want to GIVE the Mvp. To, darnold yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
It is it's a it's a Strange. Super bowl i'm
is there any data on offensive Coordinators Like, clint kubiak
who take a, job continue, you know as soon as
The world. Super.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
BOWLS oh i don't have any data on IT BECAUSE
i i don't.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
KNOW that i, mean again in his, mindset, is man
this is my first head. Coaching, JOB wow i got
to build, a staff, YOU know i got to Reach so,
LIKE again i know there's a lot. Of time, two
weeks plenty, of time but he's also got to be
reaching out, to people and that's time away from, you
know game Planning for. RABEL'S defense i.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Gotta think these guys are. Pretty professional he knows what.
This is it's The. Super bowl HE'S not i can't
imagine he's taking too much. Time away but it's an.
Interesting question.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
I'm, just, OVERALL yeah i guess it's a tough one.
For you but like my kids, are, like wait who's
in The Super. Bowl seahawks people don't really know this team,
that well big.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Name players they don't. Have stars there's no one On
the seahawks who's, a. Personality right their best PLAYER. Is
jsn what do you Know about. JSN'S personality i know
he's kind, of RELIGIOUS but i don't. REALLY know i
don't really know much about. The guy he had a
brother who. PLAYED baseball i don't know much about the guy.
AT all i don't know Much About. LEONARD williams i
don't know Much About. Devin WITHERS like i just these
(29:53):
guys are. Not personalities they're like the opposite of the Eighty,
five bears.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
A legion to boom when they showed Up At. Super
bowl they're talking. Trash hitting everybody, knew them, you know
even you look at like the Last Five. Super bowls,
You Know matt, Stafford finally like that's one of The
things i'm like. Confused with, it's like what's the best,
Storyline Here sam. DARNOLD'S redemption, i, mean listen Let's.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Bed may, You know may re Establishing the patriots After SECOND.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
So i know he's. Your guy he's so boring and
dully married is like middle.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
School sweetheart HE'S still, i mean the biggest personalities in
this game are Still are May And.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Stefan, Diggs Oh stefan diggs is insufferable, with this uh
four kids with four women, and LIKE but.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
I mean, you know one of the top musicians in.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
THE country i guess. YOU'RE right i, mean overall so
you like THE under i see it's between four and
a half.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
And. FIVE yeah i Like the seahawks to win And
the patriots to cover.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
In a low. Scoring, game interesting uh both Besides The?
Super bowl, REAL quick I have mike McDaniel as the
best offensive coordinator higher or the best coordinator higher in.
The cycle any thoughts on. That one chargers getting a
pretty sharp Mind.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
For miami you gotta remember also they're bringing back the
two tackles. Next Year that chargers offense should be between
McDaniel and his creative run plays And for hampton and
then having the two, TACKLES back i got to think
their offense takes a big step forward. Next year they're
like a seriously.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Good contender biggest surprise for you in the, coaching cycle
whether it's, you know ten coaches hired zero, black guys
Whether It's jeff Halfley, to miami which that caught me
by surprise given his Struggles Without michael parsons at the
end of, The Season kevin stefanski getting. ANOTHER shot i
think it's a good One. In atlanta anything jump out, At,
YOU eric.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
I mean i think that if they had if McDermott
had been fired a, week earlier they would have ended
up With either Stefanski or Harbaugh And. BUFF flow I
think flores would have been a really. Great CANDIDATE and
i just don't know how much the lawsuit plays into
the idea that he's not getting a head. Coaching Job
And michael flora doesn't. Excite anybody he feels like generic
(32:16):
dude coming out of The McVeigh. Shanahan CAMP and i
feel a little bit like what the league needs to
do is get McVeigh and shanahan to Hire More african
american assistants because that's where all the head coaches are coming. From,
now yeah so that's a. Good point we need more
guys Not named kubiak to run.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Those, systems, YEAH well, i mean You know kubiak to.
An extent Remember wasn't Kubiak With new orleans? Last, year
yeah and.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
They were really good And then carr got hurt and
they went and that they just were horrible.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
After, that yeah he went FROM and i think they,
fired him did?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
THEY not i think They, or no they got rid
of the whole staff the, same right because they Went
To kellen morris the. Head coach he obviously was going
to run the offense because he's an, offensive Guy so
kubiak does to. Stick.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Around right so a year ago at, This time kubiak
was basically Dusted In, New orleans and now, it's like oh,
my Gosh the Cardinals and raiders are fighting Over A.
Clint kuby how crazy?
Speaker 3 (33:15):
Is that he's done a. Good job but it's it's it's.
A combination if he's done a good job and he
comes out of this system that we know seems to
run really, good offenses and if You're the raiders and
you're going to draft a quarterback, number one it just
makes a lot. Of, sense yeah it does make a lot.
Of sense it makes more Sense Than, micha LAFLEUR who
i believe has never. Called plays McVeigh calls.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
The, plays yeah it didn't go Well for laflora With,
the jets, All Right AARON jets ftn, listen man congrats
On your patriots getting back to the. BIG game i,
Don't know Maybe the jets can make a playoff appearance
at some POINT and i can.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Get, excited yeah it's it's it's kind of unfair that
we've done this while so many other teams. Are waiting,
you Know the cowboys haven't been to the conference champampionship
game in thirty years, or whatever, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
It is they.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
Did go this is a whole. NEW team i don't
think anybody has left over from the last time that
they Made The. Super bowl it's a whole new team
and they just rebuilt tremendously fast and then had some
good luck with who they played in the playoffs and here.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
We, are yeah, all, right eron have a great one to.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Enjoy it thanks a lot
Fox Sports Radio News
Host
Jonas Knox
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