October 1, 2024 • 46 mins
The nerds react to another double slate on Monday Night Football, as Geno Smith & the Seattle Seahawks attempt to upset Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions. They also discuss the Tennessee Titans destroying the Miami Dolphins without Tua, despite being without Will Levis for the most game.
Timestamps
00:00:23 - Lions-Seahawks
00:25:00 - Titans-Dolphins
#Volume
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume. No, oh my god, how could he do that?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Watch what Charles Darwin?
Speaker 1 (00:21):
The Nerves is where it's at.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Welcome everybody back into Nerves Sash As always, I'm Carson Braburan.
Alongside me is Logan Camden, and this week we were
treated yet again to the double Monday Night Slate. It's
an interesting thing. I'm not sure how much I like
it overall. Logan, do you like it?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I kind of do, man, I kind of I gotta know.
It scratches a certain itch in my brain where I
can have but no more, no more. I think this
is the the But I kind of like when I
don't know, there's a commercial on one game, I can
kind of just watch the other one. I like both
going at the same time. It keeps me entertained throughout.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
The tough thing I think has been that both of
the two weeks that they've tried it out, there's just
been an absolute in one of their two games. And
like Dolphins Titans, you knew that that was gonna suck,
Like obviously you were expecting to it a play, but nevertheless,
that was gonna be a bad game. And Commanders Bengals
(01:19):
preseason on the schedule like that looked like a bad game.
It's just the Jade and Daniel revolution saved it. So
I don't know if you're going to kind of punt
on one of the games, then it's not that exciting
to me.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
But Logan, we.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Are going to talk about them both. And the real
Monday night game between the Seahawks and the Lions was
a fun one. You have undefeated Seattle going into Detroit.
They can't come out with a win. History made in
this game in a couple of different ways. Jared Goff
becomes the first quarterback in NFL history to complete at
(01:49):
least fifteen passes in a game with a one hundred
percent completion rating.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
And on the flip side of that, this isn't as monumental,
but I just dug this up the Seahawks. It's become
the first team to ever lose when converting at least
thirty eight plus first downs in a game.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
So it tells you there was a whole lot of.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Offense in this one, which isn't a surprise when you
look at these teams on paper. But you have been
very high on Detroit, Logan. We talked about this after
yesterday's games, you said you viewed them as the favorite
in the NFC. How does tonight's performance make you feel
about that?
Speaker 1 (02:23):
You know, it doesn't reinforce my take heavily. I'm still
disappointed in one major area, and that's their defense. Detroit
is still my NFC favorite because they're the strongest trench
team in football. Until that changes, I'm not going to
go against Detroit. I believe in them for that reason,
and offensively, I can't ask for anything else. Jared Goff
has a you know, perfect game, and that's what everybody's
(02:46):
going to talk about. From this one eighteen of eighteen
two hundred and nineteen yards to TDS. He has a
receiving touchdown in this one man Willie Walka himself. I
was more impressed with their skill position talent though, Dude,
the Jamison william seventy the creation after the catch from
these guys. The stat that amazed me the most was
I think Detroit had over two hundred and like twenty
(03:08):
yards after the catch in this game. Something ridiculous. But
they're gonna cut through teams with bad defensive lines like
Butter and I love the way they ran the ball
in this game. Like. That's what stood at to me
from this one is I do think Seattle's defense is good.
I don't think it's as good as it was touted
up to be, and I'll get into that a little
bit later. But great offenses and great trench teams are
(03:30):
gonna burn through them. And that's what Detroit did. Ran
the ball all game long. Seattle had no resistance. And
then when you can run the ball like that, it
just puts the defense in a compromise position where golf
can dot up guys, you're just at a loss at
that point. So yeah, I was super impressed with Detroit's offense,
But that's not my big question about why this team
can be great. You know, we already know that that's
(03:50):
their side of the ball. That's what they do great.
Ben Johnson an elite offensive line, great skill, position talent everywhere.
Jared Goff can do his job. The question is how
great can this defense b for Detroit? And I like
him in the trenches there too. I think they've got
a lot of guys. Alee McNeil, DJ Reader in the
fold on Rique and Aiden Hutchinson's my deplay right now.
(04:11):
The guy's awesome, Like He is probably my front runner
for that award. They're really strong in the trenches in
this one. They forced a turnover Jack Campbell, the young linebacker, Right,
that's a good play. They forced a turnover on downs
at the end of the game. But I just don't
know how good this secondary is. Like I like Brian
Branch and I like Terry and Arnold, but Arnold comes
(04:32):
away with multiple penalties in this game. The entire defense
struggled tackling their defense, only their defense. A crew's nine
penalties in this game, and I don't know what the
hell was going on with Carlton davis Man. He allowed
a couple of tds. The holding penalty led to a TD.
They were gonna get off the field on a third down.
Gino burns him on the next play on a shot
(04:53):
play to DK. There's another DPI later in this game
from him that leads to a TD. He had three
defensive pass interference penalties in this game. Kenneth Walker was
hitting home runs like I just wanted to see Detroit's
defense put this team away, and they just couldn't do it.
It's concerning to me when Seattle's offensive line is this
bad and you just have no answer for him. I
(05:15):
don't know. I was disappointed by Detroit's defense again to
night Carson, and that's to me, still their biggest question mark.
It's just this back end. It's can this secondary hold up?
Can they limit shot plays? Like? They're definitely improved from
where they were last year. Man, we saw some real,
real lows from this team, but I'm disappointed. It's not
(05:35):
it's not encouraging, like they're not nearly as bad as
they were last year. But it doesn't scream they're gonna
run away with the NFC. Right. They didn't extend their
lead here. They're always going to be competitive with this offense,
with their trench team, with how good they are there.
But I don't know, man, I've been underwhelmed by this
secondary thus far this season.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I like the safeties in the secondary you mentioned Brian Branch.
I think Kirby Joseph has been very good too, and
made an unbelievable play to end this game with that
ridiculous interception. But you mentioned Arnold obviously viewed as a
highly touted prospect, talented player first rounder this year, but
the penalties with him have just been killer. I mean,
(06:17):
he's committed at least seven penalties on the year, almost
all of them. Pass interferences like those are just really consequential.
So it is the corner spot specifically that I look
at because I love the front here, and I thought
the pass rush was pretty ferocious in this game. And
I thought that in the first half they shut down
the run game, Like, yes, they let up a ton
(06:38):
of yardage in this game. Their defense needs to be better.
A lot of it, though, was Gino going crazy extending plays,
making unbelievable throws. This is a talented receiving corps. In
the second half, they were no longer as dominant upfront,
and they did start to get run on and they
just kind of collapsed overall. But I like the front seven,
I like the safeties. It's really just the corners that
(07:00):
I'm looking at. But I agree with you, it is concerning,
and that's why I do still view the Niners as
the number one contender in the NFC. That's why I
think the Vikings are right there with the Lions, because
I think both of these are very talented offenses that
are very well coached, that are just solid at the
quarterback position. I do think that the Lions are a
(07:22):
little more talented. I think that they have the slightly
more loaded offense. I mean, they're also just so dominant
in the trenches. As you mentioned, they're the best offensive
line in football with all this skilled position talent and
this great play calling. But defensively, I do trust Minnesota more.
I do not think Detroit is a bad defense. I
think they have the potential to be a good defense.
I think the first three weeks were mostly positive from
(07:44):
them defensively, and the first half of this game was
positive from them. But you still let up thirty eight
first downs in five hundred and fifteen yards to an
offense that couldn't protect their quarterback and couldn't run the
ball for half the game. So I do think that
that's the one red flag that remains for them. Overall, though,
I don't think that this is a concerning game for
Detroit because I did think so much of this was
(08:05):
just like Gino playing at an unbelievably high level. Hot
take Logan. I understand that Jared Goff was literally perfect
in terms of his efficiency in this game. I thought
Gino Smith was clearly the more impressive quarterback on the field,
just the uphill battle he was having to fight some
of the throws that he made. Goff executed, but I
want to say two thirds of his completions in this
(08:28):
game were out of play action, Like so much of
this is set up by the run game. So much
of this is after the catch, as you mentioned, but
that's this offense, the recipe.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
He had less than one hundred air yards in this game.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Hilarious, But that's how the Lions can win.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Man. They have playmakers. With the emergence of Jamison Williams,
we know about Laporta, we know about amnro Khalif Raymond
I think has been solid, and then they're just gonna
run the ball better than basically anybody else in football.
So I thought Ben Johnson cooked in this game. I
thought the trick play was beautiful. I will say one
little nitpick at the end of this game. There's no
(09:04):
reason to put Jared Goff in a position to be
Jared Goof and take that safety. You're up fifteen. You're
guaranteed to force the Seahawks under the two minute warning,
Like if you just run the football, the game is
over and it doesn't end up costing them. It was
very unlikely that they could mess that up. In any way,
shape or form, and generally I love Dan Campbell's aggression.
That's just not a spot to be aggressive, right. Aggression
(09:27):
is situational. It's about the moments in which you choose
to attack. It's also about the plays you draw up.
There's just no need to take that risk. And also
there was a lack of discipline defensively at the end
of this game. Twelve penalties for Detroit in this one.
A little bit sloppy, but overall, you put up forty
two points in a football game, even against a decimated defense,
(09:48):
that's a testament. This was a top five offense last year,
top five offense.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Two years ago. I think this is the best offense
that they've had.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
With the emergence of Jamison Williams and another year of
that Jamior Montgomery backfield really phenomenal there, and they're absolutely
a real deal contender. It's just what ceiling does this
defense reach That remains to be seen. Let's talk about
the other side of this game, though, Logan, because the
Seahawks were fighting an uphill battle, just devastated defensively. They
(10:15):
come into this game three and zero, but neither you
or I had them in our top ten in our
power rankings. Are you impressed by this game from Seattle?
What do you take away for them?
Speaker 1 (10:25):
I mean, I am impressed by Seattle in general, Like
I think they're going to be more competitive than I
predicted in the preseason, and I think that Seattle can
still win a playoff game even without having a really
good offensive line. I'm look at the Seahawks as a
team that could upset another one in the wildcard and
the reason they weren't in my top ten yet it
wasn't offensively. I believe in this offense and Gino Smith.
(10:46):
I talked about Brock Purdy on our last episode, how
just heat impressed me through the start of the season.
I mean, Gino is another guy that is right on
the frime to that top ten. He wouldn't be in
the top ten for me, but when we're talking seeing
the light, when we're talking eleven through thirteen, like Gino
puts balls where like pinpoint accuracy where they need to
(11:07):
be with the exact right velocity, And I just think
I've undersold how much he's you know, like duct tape,
like patchwork almost fixed this offense with how bad this
offensive line is, Like he is under dress all the time,
and he is so comfortable, he's so good at extending
plays and making plays when there isn't anything like it's
(11:29):
a it's not a good offensive situation with the line,
because I do think he's got exceptional skill position guys
dk JSN, Lockett, Walker, Charbona, all those guys are great.
But this offensive line is one of the worst in
the NFL. And I think it's a testament to Ginosmith's
ability that this team is this good week in week
out with that bad of an offensive line. So even
(11:50):
though I don't trust him, and that's still a big
red flag for me, I think they could win a
playoff game. But the reason that they're not in my
top ten, and they probably won't be until I see
a little more from them, is I wanted to see
this defense under actual stress against a good offense. You know,
you play the Patriots, you play the Broncos, like, I'm
just not going to be moved by beating up on
(12:11):
like Jacoby Brissett and bow Nicks and lackluster QB talent.
And there were some numbers that were encouraging. They were
number one in yards per play, they were number one
in yards per drive. They were number four in points
per drive. They were number one in opposing quarterback passing
yards per attempt coming into this game. I mean they
were tops across the league. The one concerning number to me,
(12:33):
and what I thought we did see get exposed a
little bit about the Seattle defense was the rushing defense.
They were a league average rushing defense coming into this game.
They were the worst group there last year. And this
is an extreme version of this because I think Detroit
is just so elite at running the ball between the tackles,
like I think Seattle is improved in that regard, but
(12:54):
I don't think they're like an elite run stopping unit.
And I still think that's probably the biggest, you know,
the biggest achilles heel of this defense, so to speak. Again,
I say it's extreme because the Lions are just gonna
decimate so many teams. But I still think that's the
weakness of the Seattle defense. But I like the surrounding pieces.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Man.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I like the secondary. I think Devin Witherspoon's one of
the best corners in the game, and the secondary at
full strength, because they did get dotted up a little
bit tonight, but they were down some key guys in
the secondary. So overall, Carson, I've been moved through four
weeks by Seattle, I have been meaningfully moved. Like, I
don't think they're an elite contender. I wouldn't put them
in that tier. But is this team a playoff contender?
(13:33):
Like at this point, i'd be surprised if Seattle wasn't
in the playoffs. And they're gonna push San Francisco. I
think it's gonna be really close. With how San Francisco
stumbled out of the gates, I think they can push
San Francisco and make this a close division race just
because they got a little bit of a lead. Right,
you win some Indivision games, maybe you steal one from
(13:54):
San Francisco. I think Seattle could be, you know, pushing
them right there at the end. I would probably still
take San Francisco to win this division, but I think
Seattle just I'm impressed by Gino. Man, it's a lot
to do with Gino. Like, I think I think Gino
can carry this offense week in week out and keep
them competitive. So yeah, I think it's gonna take a
few things breaking their way down the stretch, but yeah,
(14:17):
I could see Seattle I think they're number two in
this division. I think it's this year at least. I
think it's San Francisco. I think it's Seattle. I think
it's Arizona and then LA in that order. Yeah, I'm
impressed with Gino legitimately. That's why I have faith in
this team more so than anything else though.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Thank god, man, because you know I love you, Logan.
But I don't know if there was a take of
years that appalled me more throughout the offseason then the
way you talked about Geno Smith. I imagine it was the
way that you felt as you were watching me say,
you know what, I think I'm gonna get cheeky and
take the Cowboys to go to the Super Bowl. I mean, Logan,
I hate to bring it up, but you said you
would take Russell Wilson over the man.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I almost vomited. I mean, Camden died on camera, so.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Called Russell Wilson a Hall of Fame quarterback then too.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yeah, man, No, you were drunk, dude, I believe you
were drunk on the pod at the time.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
But still I went back and I looked at my
QB list, because I always have a running QB list
in my notes app oh, man, I was disgusted, frankly
with my thing, dude, I had like man, I had
Russ over toua bro like. I was actually tripping. I've
updated it since then, so I'm up to date. But yeah, man,
(15:28):
I was on something. I'm not quite sure what I
was on at the time, but I was on something.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I remember, Dude, I was getting excited about Gino because
I picked the Seahawks to make the playoffs, and I said,
Gino's a huge part of that. I think he's a
good quarterback. I thought after the twenty twenty two season
he played at a top ten level. I had him
in that top ten range. And then you looked at
me in the eyes and you said Geno's not that good.
Gino doesn't move me. And I just thought, Logan, you
wounded me. I love Gino. I called you racist at
(15:54):
the time. I wish I had and I didn't mean it.
But Gino's that guy. Man.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
He is accurate as hell.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
He has elite accuracy, but at the same time, he's audacious.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Man.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
If he sees a tight window, he is willing to
let it rip. He has the arm talent to do it,
the arm strength and he has the accuracy, the pinpoint precision,
and he's got the mindset to be willing to take
those chances. So he's thrown a few picks this year.
I really don't mind. This offense needs him to be aggressive.
They need him to carry them and also ability to
(16:26):
avoid sacks. I mean, he takes three in this game,
but my god, dude, it could have been eight. Like
he is having to consistently navigate these extremely crowded pockets
and oftentimes hang in there right, not necessarily escape and
start rolling out, like keep himself available in terms of
throwing to the entire field, stay in the pocket, but
just like definitely dance around these defensive linemen closing in
(16:50):
on him. I'm so impressed by Geno. There's one third
and long in this game that he just miraculously escapes
and throws a dart into a tight window to lock it.
He made some unbelievable throws to DK, including one that
DK dropped on the sideline that was like perfectly placed.
The pick at the end of this game literally means
nothing to me, although he could have thrown one to
(17:10):
Azeloni that would have been worse. But yeah, man, I
have faith in him. I think he makes this a
good offense. I'm worried about the line. I think the
line is just bad. I want to see the run
game be more consistent. Kenneth Walker got going in that
second half, but did nothing in the first half. But
I feel good about this offense overall. In the defense,
(17:30):
it's tough to take anything away.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
When you're down boy mafe you're down, Leonard Williams, you're down.
Byron Murphy, you're down, Jerome Baker, you're down in WOESU Like,
this is the second string defensive line, and I didn't
think the defensive line would be a strength of this group.
But I do think Leonard Williams is great. I think
Mafey is very good. So when you're without those dudes
against the team that is the best in football in
(17:53):
the trenches like no shocker, you're gonna get bullied, and
then Julian Love gets injured mid gain, Like, I want
to see more or from the Seahawks defense. I want
to see them tested, because you're right, they had a
Mickey Mouse slate in the first three weeks. I mean,
facing the two A list Dolphins and the Broncos and
the Pats. Those are three of the five worst offenses
in football, probably, but I think they're talented and I
(18:15):
do think that they should be a solid defense. They
just got bullied and it wasn't good on any level.
I mean, they weren't very good in coverage in this game.
They're tackling was bad. When the Lions got to the
second level, like they were still able to get what
they want, but I think that line was just ridiculous.
You can't allow forty two points in an NFL game,
no matter what Detroit late in this game before they
(18:37):
were just trying to run out clock. At the very end,
they had run forty six plays only and they had
forty two points. So there's a duality where it's like, yes,
this is basically a second string defense, but also you
still can't get destroyed like that. I just think it's
tough to have hard takeaways. I don't think they're in
the San Francisco tier. I think San Francisco is just loaded.
(18:57):
But I do think they should be a wild card team.
That's how I felt preseason. Gino's a component of that.
I like Mike McDonald. I think this defense will progress,
and I thought overall, this was an encouraging showing when
you can produce like this offensively, even when the run
game was struggling early facing a really good defensive front.
I thought it was positive overall for Seattle. I thought
(19:18):
they were gonna get blown out. We both thought they
were gonna get blown out in this game. Their offense
kept them in it.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
So did I.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
I mean, anytime the Lions do a punch man, they
answered and like, Seattle made them pay. Like that's the
thing is. Detroit may have committed all these penalties and
stuff like that, but Gino in this offense made them
pay every single time. So I do I view I
view Seattle on a completely different light than I did
before this season. I didn't look at them as a
(19:44):
real contender. I thought they'd be extremely mid Yeah, I
think this is a wildcard football team, man, And Gino
is the guy that's moved me the most. I mean,
I was just wrong. I was just wrong on Gino. Man.
He's again, when we're talking about outside of the elite
window of quarterbacks, it's you know, right outside my top
(20:04):
ten right now. It would be Rogers, it would be
pretty and it would be Gino all lingering right there,
ready to take somebody's spot. You know, Gino over golf, Yeah, Geno,
I think so, it's very close. I think that, Yeah,
I take Geno over golf though, like and I think
people will look at the numbers, but situation is the
(20:26):
important context. His stat line is ridiculous in this game.
But I just think Gino can do more man the
play extension. I think his feel is better, and I
know Gino can get aggressive, but he doesn't have Jared
Goof moments, right, Jared Goof has Goof moments. Geno to
me is just a bit of a gunslinger, like he's
willing to take risks, and I like that more than
(20:48):
you know, golf actually has Goofer moments. Gino does it
for the most part.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
And Gino has to take risks in his offense. You know,
they're run for five yards per carry. Like, it's a
very different situation.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Real quick.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Before we move on to this next game, I just
want to ask, because I thought this was a really
interesting play. Do you think Connor Williams, the center was
right to snap that ball. When it's fourth and goal
for the Seahawks, you have two timeouts, you're down thirteen.
You got to get a score there. Do you think
that he was right because the offense wasn't ready, but
the defense also wasn't ready to play the alternative. The
(21:22):
alternative is calling a timeout or to or eating the
delay a game.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
I mean, I I can see it from his perspective,
just seeing the you know, the play clock tick down.
Like I understand his his logic. I don't know what
I do in that situation. Man, you don't want to
take the delay a game. And I think maybe he
was just thinking. My my thinking was that he probably
was just ready to go when it hit won anyway, right,
(21:49):
like it hadn't been snapped yet.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
That's a tough spot, but I don't fault him. I
think that was the right decision.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Yeah, tough to even say. Right. He might not have
been a decision.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Maybe he literally just did it, but he didn't seem
that he was given any signal to snap the ball,
So it seemed like he was probably just like, all right,
fuck it, we can't e the penalty with candy to
time out here.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
I thought it was the right thing to do.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
I think somebody might have been asking about Kyler Kyler.
I don't know. I thought somebody's asking my Coyle. I
think Kyler's in my top ten now too, Dude, I've
been moved by Kyler enough.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Bro imagined the Kyler. Oh no, there is a Kyler mentioned.
Kyler's tough. I would have Kyler above Geno.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Kyler's in my top ten now for sure.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
And yeah it's close.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
But Kyler's such a ridiculous creator.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Man I concur, I concur.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Anyways, I just thought that was an interesting little instance
of balancing your priorities. You're going to be in a
rough spot either way, but like at the end of
the day, because the defense wasn't ready to go, like,
it's weird. Obviously, Gino could have fumbled the ball and
that would have been worst case scenario, but he didn't.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
He caught it.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
He threw from a clean pocket to a pretty open
receiver just barely missed him. I thought it ended up
being not a bad outcome for the Seahawks. All right, guys,
we're gonna take a quick break. Then we will talk
about the delightful football game that was Titans Dolphins. Hooray
(23:23):
td Tuddy taking it to the house in for six
whatever you call a touchdown. One thing's for sure, touchdowns
matter more at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner
of the NFL.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
On the ground, in the air, from the special teams
or the defense. We don't care how they score them.
We want to bet on touchdowns, and Drafting sports Book
is delivering ready to place your first bet. Try betting
on something simple like picking a player to score a
touchdown or how many tds will be in a game.
Go to the Drafting sports Book app and make your pick.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
Ready to do a touchdown dance of your own. New
DraftKings customers bet five dollars to get two hundred dollars
in bonus bets. Instantly score big with DraftKings Sportsbook, the
number one place to bet touchdowns. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook
app and use code nerds that's code nerds for new
customers to get two hundred dollars in bonus bets when
(24:14):
you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
The Crown is yours gambling problem called one eight hundred
Gambler or in West Virginia, visit one eight hundred gambler
dot net. In New York call eight seven seven eight
open wired text Hope and y four six seven three
six nine in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling
call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven
seven or visit CCPG dot org. Please play responsibly on
(24:39):
behalf of boothill casinomen resorting Kansas twenty one and over
age varies by jurisdiction Voyd and Ontario. Bonus bets expire
one hundred and sixty eight hours after issue. Ince See
DKNG dot co slash bball for eligibility and deposit restrictions,
terms and responsible gaming resources.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
We're getting a.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Lot of outrage in the chat for not giving Kenneth
Walker enough credit. I thought Kenneth Walker played a very
good game. I thought he played an awesome second half.
But it's not mince words. It was the Genos Show,
it was the Gino Show. Kenneth had a couple of
awesome plays. He's good, there's no question. I mean, producing
with this efficiency behind this old line, played very well,
played very well.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Yeah. I mean he's a step up from Sharbona. I
really think you saw this offense lose some punch when
he was out. Both of those running backs are good.
I mean, all the skill position talent here is all
the skill position talent here is really good. I mean,
the depth here, the fact that you have Walker and Sharbona,
the fact that you've got you know, Lockett JSN. The
loaded the Seahawks offense is it's really good. I mean
(25:42):
to disrespect him.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Only they could block.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
This could be one of the best offenses in the league. Man,
they're playing from a deficit.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Yeah all right, well, you know who looks very very
far from the best offense.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
In the league that they once were lowing.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Last year, the Miami Dolphins were ding records. This year,
they are getting destroyed by the Tennessee Titans of the world.
Here's what really stands out to me and shocks me
about Miami right now. The fact that they came into
this season knowing Tua's injury history, with the concussions, with
(26:17):
one of the worst backup quarterback situations in football Skyler
Thompson Tyler Hunley plays in this game. Both of those
guys are incapable of running a functional NFL offense. That
just blows my mind, considering the offensive talent they have
that they're wasting because they can't even get competent quarterback play.
How do you feel about Miami right now?
Speaker 1 (26:38):
I mean, you're cooked, absolutely cooked, man. And I mean
I think you see it in the emotions of the
guys on the sideline, like the team looks defeated. The
vibes are horrible. You got Tyreek Pode walking over to
the sideline, you know, just angry, and again everybody just
seems defeated. We're four games end of the season, man,
(27:00):
we got thirteen more weeks of football, Like, this is
not the time to put your head down, right. It's
like we always talk about when you can take the
hope out of a out of a team, they're done.
And I like Tyler Huntley, this is a hard offense
to run, like Pro Bowler. That was the nail in
the coffin for the Pro Bowl, man, Like when they
(27:22):
did it online and they had like the Pro Bowl
Gaming version and then they said, oh, we're gonna play
flag football and then we're gonna play Tic Tac toe
or whatever side show. The real nail in the coffin
was the Tyler Huntley Pro Bowl because then it's like
the Pro Yeah, at least he had a good year.
I mean Huntley, he was a He had two tds
(27:42):
and three picks that year. I mean, come on, man, like, yeah,
but you're exactly right, Carson. I think it is all
on Mike McDaniel that they didn't have a guy ready
to go, and you see the true value of having
a backup quarterback that you can put in. Last year,
Joe Flacco steps in for Deshaun Watson. The season is lost,
but this team is good around them, steps in wins
(28:05):
them a bunch of games, gets them to the playoffs.
Like this year, Bryce Young, the Panthers are done after
two weeks. This team looks like they can go on.
In seventeen, Andy Dalton comes in and injects them with life.
You don't have anybody reliable that can operate an offense,
like I know they went out and got Hungy and
elevated him from the practice squad. I might be looking
(28:28):
for somebody else. And it's just it sucks because you're
now at this spot where week to week you are
scrambling to find anybody who can operate your offense. And
it's hard getting guys ready to learn the play calls
and learn the routes in the playbook. And it's hard
finding a guy who has the talent one you know
(28:48):
at this stage in his career that can play that
still has the ability, the desire in the arm, and
then it's hard getting them up to speed week to
week to go against NFL defenses. It's just a lot.
And you're exactly right, man. I mean, Skyler Thompson was
never the answer. Tim Boyle was never the answer. Tyler
Huntley is not the answer. And the more concerning thing
to me, Carson, is this defense can't stop anything. I mean,
(29:12):
they got eaten alive tonight. My thing is just they're
so predictable right now, Carson. Without Tua, you're expecting this
team to run on early downs, so you're gonna stack
the box, You're gonna slow that down. It sets them
up for third and longs, and that's where you got them,
Like you can just kind of play off them and
play them to the sticks. It just makes them look really,
(29:33):
really predictable. And to that, I got to give credit
to Tua a little bit, man. I Mean, this offense
never looked this bad without Tua. I bag on the
guy a lot, but.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Not even close.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
He gets them going. He makes this one of the
top offenses in the league. Like I think I was
a little too. I think I underrated Toua just because
of all the talent here. You can't just put anybody
in this situation. But I mean, they look lifeless, Carson.
The Dolphins look let lifeless at this point in the season,
and I don't know what's going to turn it around
(30:04):
for them. I still think that if they find the
quarterback that they can figure it out and they can
win some football games. But it's like, this is the
strength of your football team. It reminds me of the Rams.
It's like, now that the Rams are down all this
talent and they have no route to winning on the
side of the football that they're supposed to win on,
You're just not going to be a good team. I
think the Dolphins are dead in the water, man. This
(30:26):
team looks lifeless. The vibes are off, the offense can't move,
the defense is getting marched on. I think they're done for.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
It's horrible. And look, I've never been an optimist about
the long term outlook for the Dolphins because I don't
think that their defense has been what it would need
to be for them to be a serious contender. And
I've always been worried about the quarterback position in those
real high stakes matchups against heavy hitters where you need
big time plays in tough conditions against the league defenses.
(30:56):
Two hasn't been good there. The Dolphins offense hasn't been
good there. But to reiterate my initial point, I just
think that this is flagrant mismanagement of your football team
by the Miami Dolphins. Like to a missed fifteen games
over his first three years man, and it was awesome
that he was healthy for all of last year, But
there was no reason to expect that that was the norm.
(31:18):
If you had an Andy Dalton, if you had a
Carson Wentz. I mean, there are numerous high end backups.
If you had a Tyrod Taylor.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Man, this could be were available man.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Dudes available for the cheap. Like if you just had
a competent, veteran quarterback who could get the ball to
your weapons, who could make this offense function at a
basic level, right, who could just throw with timing and
decent anticipation and accuracy, you would still be a competitive
football team. You would take a step down. But like
(31:50):
I legitimately think they could be a good offense with
dudes who could just do the basic stuff, and instead
it's Skylar Thompson who's awful. I have no idea why
he'd ever be your plan B in Week one of
a season with a historically injury prone quarterback. And Tyler
Huntley just can't throw the ball, man. I mean, he's
given you five point seven yards per pass attempt in
his career in the league. He was a much better
(32:12):
fit in the Raven system, Like he made some sense
as a backup there because of that, and still the
offense always sucked when he played. Like how many times
have we given the numbers? They put up twenty eight
points per game with Lamar, they put up seventeen points
per game with Tyler Huntley, Like that's a massive, massive differential.
I don't know where the Tyler Huntley enthusiasm has come from,
maybe his Pro Bowl, maybe the Pro Bowl stands, but
(32:35):
it's just really, really, really disappointing to watch the fastest
offense I've ever seen, the offense that I still think
has the best receiving duo in football, incapable of even
getting those dudes the ball. Like their season is obviously over.
I think their future outlook is bleak because of how
much they've paid to and questions about him long term.
But you had a chance to save this season. You
(32:57):
had a chance to be a respectable football team, could
have called up Ryan Tannehill for his big return to Miami.
Like legitimately, all of these would have kept you in
football games, and instead you're just getting boat raced by
everybody you play. You don't even look like an NFL team.
You haven't looked like an NFL team in three weeks.
In preseason, it was expected that you would make the playoffs.
So I think it's a complete disaster for them in
(33:19):
every way. On the flip side of this logan, the
Titans win a game, but they do so with their
young quarterback on the sidelines. Will Levis leaves this game
in the first quarter with shoulder injury, stays on the sideline,
does not return.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Though.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Are you doing a dance there? What is that? What's
that reaction?
Speaker 1 (33:38):
I'm pushing them out agenda. I'm about to push my agenda.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
I see. Let's hear it. Let's hear it. We haven't
been the biggest Will Levis enthusiasts. You have called multiple
times already for Mason Rudolph to be the starter here.
They put your boy Mason in, they win a game.
What do you take away from that?
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Well, first of all, I just want to say this
may be the worst football game ever played. This was
a comedy of errors throughout this game.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
That's bad ones this year.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Will Levis's interception and then him injuring himself scrambling. Next,
just a bunch of drop passes, and this had like
the weirdest end of the first half I think I've
ever seen where Duke Riley for the Dolphins cluelessly tries
to touch the football as a part of the returning team,
which would have given the Titans the ball at the
(34:25):
end of the first half, end up getting points because
Mason Rudolph makes it way. But you just can't touch, man.
You just bugging over the air. She's all right, is
she doing?
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Is she tweaking?
Speaker 1 (34:35):
She's tweaking. Dide you chill man.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
I think to attack you, bro. I think she may
have a heat seeking missile on you right now.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
She's starting up her old forward right now. Real anyways,
you can't touch that ball like he would have given
a Titans great field position and reminded me of Leon
Lett touching that football at the into this Huntley fumbles
a snap and ends up having it was just like
the longest end of a first half. I can ever remember,
and it was a comedy of airs. But yeah, man,
(35:08):
the Titans should have been put in Mason Rudolph. The
offense should have been better under Brian Callahan. Like I
think the skilled position talent is legitimately good, DeAndre Hopkins,
Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, TYJ. Spears. I don't think the
offensive line is bad. I like J. C. Latham, I
like Scarnsky, I like Dylan Radunes. And they're too clever, right.
(35:29):
They got Brian Callahan from Cincinnati because he's an offensive guy,
and I think you see it in this game. The
prestat motion is just confusing defenses, all the moving parts.
It's really clever. And yeah, man, I'm always gonna be
impartial to Mason Rudolph because he saved me from Mitchell Trubisky.
God bless you, Mason. Thank you. You won us some games,
(35:51):
you got us to the playoffs. And I legitimately think
Mason is a good like starter. I think he can
be an average starter for you, and he's he's a
better stabilizer than Levis. That's why I prefer him. Like
you might not have the highlights, the deep bombs from
Levis or the scrambles, but there's gonna be a lot
less low points and boneheaded mistakes. First drive steps in,
(36:14):
makes throws, gets them a field goal into the first half.
Dot for twenty seven yards gets them into field goal range.
And I don't think his numbers are going to back
this up. And he didn't need to do a whole
lot in this game. I don't want to blow too
much smoke here because they do just end up running
the hell out of the ball in this game. And
had honestly very little to do with Mason Rudolph, but
(36:36):
he made some good throws in this game. He hit
de Andandre Hopkins in rhythm between two defenders, Hopkins just
dropped it. He had a great throw to Ridley on
the sideline that Ridley just dropped. He's just got a
different kind of veteran presence, and that's something that I've
come to value more and more as I continue to
watch football year after year. There's value in having a
guy that has been around the league that is comfortable
(36:59):
are gonna make mistakes. That's inevitable when you play as
important a position as QB. Mason Rudolph is certainly not
going to be perfect, but he just has a different
kind of poison comfortability in the pocket. He doesn't look
erratic and you know, scared like Lewis does at some points.
He looks controlled and for a team like this, specifically
(37:20):
because I think Will Levis is not done. I think
he is still very talented and could very well pan
out to be a good quarterback in this league. For
a roster like this, I just think Mason Rudolph gives
you the best chance to win games. You've got a
good defense that I believe in. I think your offense
is good legitimately, like, I think you could be an
(37:41):
average to good football team, and Will Levis handicapped some
of that by throwing football games away. Mason Rudolph is
not going to come in here and be superman. But
he's also not just gonna give games away to the
other team like Lewis has early in this season. So yeah, man,
I don't know if they're gonna do it, but I
just think Mason Rudolph gives you a better chance to
win football games. Right. So now, it's kind of like
(38:02):
the Bryce versus Andy Dalton dynamic. It's not to that extreme,
but it's it's similar. I think Mason gives you a
better chance to win games right now, so I would
go with him moving forward.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
It's tough.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
I do think that Mason is a better option if
your pure objective is win now. The thing is, I'm
not that high on the Titans, and listen, if Will
Levis wasn't their starter, they very well could be three
and one right now. Like he basically threw away the
first two games. He has nine turnovers logan in three
(38:36):
games and a quarter. Like it's brutal. He said he
didn't see aug but today after he threw the pick,
I don't know how he missed him, like the big
as hell Will. That's what I'm saying, dude, first career
pick for Emmanuel Logbuck, congratulations, but yikes, man, yikes, he's
got multiple more turnovers than anybody else in football. The
(38:57):
conflict here is just if you're the Titans, what is
your ceiling. I don't think it's high. I don't think
there's a world in which they make the playoffs. They're
also not going to be as bad with Levis, where
it's like, oh my god, our entire morale has been broken.
We might not win a game, we might not survive
this season. As a coaching staff like it was with Bryce.
(39:17):
He also just has more physical tools than Bryce. So
I can see a pretty compelling pitch for listen. We
just want to see what we have in him, and honestly,
that's the side that I air on.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
It's frustrating for a young quarterback to lose you games.
It's just what are you really gaining if you get
to seven wins, maybe eight instead of five if you're
the Titans this year because of your quarterback. I don't
think that's enough to offset seeing what you have in
Levis because the physical tools are there. I've been on
the side of I think he's frankly just too prone
(39:51):
to these backbreaking mistakes, and I don't think the physical
tools are special enough.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
But there are stretches where.
Speaker 3 (39:56):
He's pushing the ball downfield and he's moving outside the pocket.
He has the legs, he has a well above average
NFL arm just in terms of pure strength, and his
accuracy isn't even bad. Like he's just stupid. He's stupid
a few times a game, and I don't think that's
something that he's going to overcome to become completely completely agree.
(40:20):
I don't think it is My take is just your
roster's not good enough for me to shy away from
trying it for at least a little bit longer and
seeing what he has, So I would still keep Levis
out there. If they don't, I don't think it's the
end of the world because I'm not a believer in
Will Levis. But with these teams man young teams with
young quarterbacks, I generally am on the side if you're
(40:41):
already starting him out there, give him a bit of
a leash.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Yeah, I can hear. I can see the argument for
both sides. My thing is just I don't know, you
don't want to alienate the locker room, Like, yeah, in
my opinion, if for sure, if will because you're going
to create a bigger storm for yourself. If Levis comes
out last week or next week, excuse me, you lose again,
and then you really have this ass. Yes, there are
(41:11):
very few quarterbacks that I've seen in the NFL that
have this kind of raw ability but are just hampered
by their brain. Like I don't mean this in a
mean but like Will Levis is like a blonde quarterback,
like he just has these.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
Just stereotyping that's gonna be fifteen yards for stereotype come but.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
Like these these crippling blonde moments where I'm like, oh,
will come.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
On, man, Like will we know? Will you don't throw
the ball backwards? There you're being wrapped up and there's
no receiver in the vicinity.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
And I know Mason isn't going to have as many
of those moments. But I disagree a little bit in
saying that you don't think this team is ready. I
think with the state of their division, I think with
how bad, how bad of a dumpster fire the Jags are,
with how competitive I think they can be against the Colts.
You know, I think the Titans are good enough to
(42:03):
make like a wildcard push. It may be late, which
is how big of a hole they've dug themselves. But
I do think this roster isn't far away. Man. I
like the defense. I think that the pass rush is good.
I like their linebackers like I like their defense overall.
And then their offense is close to the league average,
if not right around there. Like I don't know, man,
(42:23):
I'm I think the Titans are all right. I think
they're talented enough to make a wildcard push. But you
do make a good point The other part of this
is I talk about alienating the locker room. If you
come out and lose next week Will Levis. Do you
want to alienate Will Levis? If you do think he's
your franchise quarterback, you don't want to give up on
him here, Like I understand that argument too, But I do, man,
(42:46):
I wonder if this is going to be the thing
that holds Levis back from ever being like a reliable starter.
Just yea boneheaded mistakes because he's got all the talent. Man,
for sure. It's just cutting out on those fuse plays
a game, and I don't know if he can do it.
We've seen it so many times. It's like every game,
I need to see him clean those up. But I do, man,
(43:07):
I'm always gonna air on the side of who gives
me the best chance to win an individual football game.
I'm about winning games. I think Mason Rudolph does that
for you.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
That's fair.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
I think that we are sort of on the opposite
sides of this. I think I air on the side,
especially when a quarterback is physically talented, of giving them
a little bit of a leash because it takes time
to figure this stuff out.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
It's just inevitable.
Speaker 3 (43:29):
Maybe it's because I watched such a ridiculous development trajectory
with Josh Allen, something that is not often replicated. A
point when I see a football team that has a
dude who is physically talented, I don't think you can
expect a guy you draft knowing that he's robbed, that
he has tools to just four games in the year
(43:49):
two have it figured out.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
And to be clear, I.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Think will Levis is a pretty extreme example of doing
dumb stuff. I have never been on the side of
saying that I think he is going to be a
successful quarterback. But I'm just maybe not as high on
like the Titans win now potential to where I'm like,
you're robbing this team. It's frustrating when your quarterback cost
you games. But they're more capable than I expected. They're solid.
(44:14):
I still think they'd be headed for a seven win
season with Mason something like that. But I mean, so
then it's like, I don't know, does that move the needle?
Speaker 2 (44:22):
No.
Speaker 1 (44:22):
My thing with that Carson is the margins between winning
seven games and winning nine games are so close, Like
you know, that's just the nature of football. But I
get it. I get it. Will Man. As Bill Walla said,
it takes twenty four games, and know what you got
in a QB man, You need a big sample size.
I'm in no way ready to give up on the
(44:44):
guy yet, but I do think Mason gives him a
better chance to win. So it's it's complicated. It's not
an easy dynamic man. Especially again, Will's tossed away two games.
Mason manages you to your first win. That's when the
conversations creep up.
Speaker 2 (44:59):
No, I agree.
Speaker 3 (45:00):
I think Mason Rudolph gives them a better chance to win. Now, absolutely,
it's just valuing. How important is that to you? How
much do you care about Will Evis. First of all, Logan,
you and I are big, big opponents of the sunken
cost fallacy taking control. Just because you invested a pick
on somebody doesn't mean that you need to continue to
invest in them.
Speaker 2 (45:19):
If it's not there, it's not there.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
And it's not like they took him first overall, right,
they took him in the second round, So I would
be outraged if they went with Mason Rudolph going forward.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
I'll say that, all right.
Speaker 3 (45:27):
Appreciate you guys tuning in. Hope you enjoyed if you did.
As always, there's plenty more NERD SESSH content. You can
find all of our full shows talking NFL and NBA
on our YouTube channel. We reacted to all of yesterday's games.
Go check that out if you haven't, and we are
continuing to pump out NBA season preview content. You can
also listen to all this across our audio platforms, but
(45:50):
you can find us some bonus content on YouTube as well.
Logan's been doing some film breakdowns on young quarterbacks. We
have some NBA video essays you can lock in on
all of that. You can also follow us across social TikTok,
Instagram at nerd Sash, Twitter at nerd Underscore Sesh and
you can join our discord if you want.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
The link to that is at the link tree.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
Across our social media bio, people are asking, People are asking, Carson,
are you on the via hemp right now? You wouldn't
know if I was. That's how functional you remain on
the via hemp while having a great time. You would
have no idea, you'd be none the wiser. So that's
all I'll say. One last shout out to Via with that.
As always, I've been Carson brabber I have
Speaker 1 (46:29):
Been logging Camden and this was nerd Sash
The volume. No, oh my god, how could he do that?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Watch what Charles Darwin?
Speaker 1 (00:21):
The Nerves is where it's at.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Welcome everybody back into Nerves Sash As always, I'm Carson Braburan.
Alongside me is Logan Camden, and this week we were
treated yet again to the double Monday Night Slate. It's
an interesting thing. I'm not sure how much I like
it overall. Logan, do you like it?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I kind of do, man, I kind of I gotta know.
It scratches a certain itch in my brain where I
can have but no more, no more. I think this
is the the But I kind of like when I
don't know, there's a commercial on one game, I can
kind of just watch the other one. I like both
going at the same time. It keeps me entertained throughout.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
The tough thing I think has been that both of
the two weeks that they've tried it out, there's just
been an absolute in one of their two games. And
like Dolphins Titans, you knew that that was gonna suck,
Like obviously you were expecting to it a play, but nevertheless,
that was gonna be a bad game. And Commanders Bengals
(01:19):
preseason on the schedule like that looked like a bad game.
It's just the Jade and Daniel revolution saved it. So
I don't know if you're going to kind of punt
on one of the games, then it's not that exciting
to me.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
But Logan, we.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Are going to talk about them both. And the real
Monday night game between the Seahawks and the Lions was
a fun one. You have undefeated Seattle going into Detroit.
They can't come out with a win. History made in
this game in a couple of different ways. Jared Goff
becomes the first quarterback in NFL history to complete at
(01:49):
least fifteen passes in a game with a one hundred
percent completion rating.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
And on the flip side of that, this isn't as monumental,
but I just dug this up the Seahawks. It's become
the first team to ever lose when converting at least
thirty eight plus first downs in a game.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
So it tells you there was a whole lot of.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Offense in this one, which isn't a surprise when you
look at these teams on paper. But you have been
very high on Detroit, Logan. We talked about this after
yesterday's games, you said you viewed them as the favorite
in the NFC. How does tonight's performance make you feel
about that?
Speaker 1 (02:23):
You know, it doesn't reinforce my take heavily. I'm still
disappointed in one major area, and that's their defense. Detroit
is still my NFC favorite because they're the strongest trench
team in football. Until that changes, I'm not going to
go against Detroit. I believe in them for that reason,
and offensively, I can't ask for anything else. Jared Goff
has a you know, perfect game, and that's what everybody's
(02:46):
going to talk about. From this one eighteen of eighteen
two hundred and nineteen yards to TDS. He has a
receiving touchdown in this one man Willie Walka himself. I
was more impressed with their skill position talent though, Dude,
the Jamison william seventy the creation after the catch from
these guys. The stat that amazed me the most was
I think Detroit had over two hundred and like twenty
(03:08):
yards after the catch in this game. Something ridiculous. But
they're gonna cut through teams with bad defensive lines like
Butter and I love the way they ran the ball
in this game. Like. That's what stood at to me
from this one is I do think Seattle's defense is good.
I don't think it's as good as it was touted
up to be, and I'll get into that a little
bit later. But great offenses and great trench teams are
(03:30):
gonna burn through them. And that's what Detroit did. Ran
the ball all game long. Seattle had no resistance. And
then when you can run the ball like that, it
just puts the defense in a compromise position where golf
can dot up guys, you're just at a loss at
that point. So yeah, I was super impressed with Detroit's offense,
But that's not my big question about why this team
can be great. You know, we already know that that's
(03:50):
their side of the ball. That's what they do great.
Ben Johnson an elite offensive line, great skill, position talent everywhere.
Jared Goff can do his job. The question is how
great can this defense b for Detroit? And I like
him in the trenches there too. I think they've got
a lot of guys. Alee McNeil, DJ Reader in the
fold on Rique and Aiden Hutchinson's my deplay right now.
(04:11):
The guy's awesome, Like He is probably my front runner
for that award. They're really strong in the trenches in
this one. They forced a turnover Jack Campbell, the young linebacker, Right,
that's a good play. They forced a turnover on downs
at the end of the game. But I just don't
know how good this secondary is. Like I like Brian
Branch and I like Terry and Arnold, but Arnold comes
(04:32):
away with multiple penalties in this game. The entire defense
struggled tackling their defense, only their defense. A crew's nine
penalties in this game, and I don't know what the
hell was going on with Carlton davis Man. He allowed
a couple of tds. The holding penalty led to a TD.
They were gonna get off the field on a third down.
Gino burns him on the next play on a shot
(04:53):
play to DK. There's another DPI later in this game
from him that leads to a TD. He had three
defensive pass interference penalties in this game. Kenneth Walker was
hitting home runs like I just wanted to see Detroit's
defense put this team away, and they just couldn't do it.
It's concerning to me when Seattle's offensive line is this
bad and you just have no answer for him. I
(05:15):
don't know. I was disappointed by Detroit's defense again to
night Carson, and that's to me, still their biggest question mark.
It's just this back end. It's can this secondary hold up?
Can they limit shot plays? Like? They're definitely improved from
where they were last year. Man, we saw some real,
real lows from this team, but I'm disappointed. It's not
(05:35):
it's not encouraging, like they're not nearly as bad as
they were last year. But it doesn't scream they're gonna
run away with the NFC. Right. They didn't extend their
lead here. They're always going to be competitive with this offense,
with their trench team, with how good they are there.
But I don't know, man, I've been underwhelmed by this
secondary thus far this season.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I like the safeties in the secondary you mentioned Brian Branch.
I think Kirby Joseph has been very good too, and
made an unbelievable play to end this game with that
ridiculous interception. But you mentioned Arnold obviously viewed as a
highly touted prospect, talented player first rounder this year, but
the penalties with him have just been killer. I mean,
(06:17):
he's committed at least seven penalties on the year, almost
all of them. Pass interferences like those are just really consequential.
So it is the corner spot specifically that I look
at because I love the front here, and I thought
the pass rush was pretty ferocious in this game. And
I thought that in the first half they shut down
the run game, Like, yes, they let up a ton
(06:38):
of yardage in this game. Their defense needs to be better.
A lot of it, though, was Gino going crazy extending plays,
making unbelievable throws. This is a talented receiving corps. In
the second half, they were no longer as dominant upfront,
and they did start to get run on and they
just kind of collapsed overall. But I like the front seven,
I like the safeties. It's really just the corners that
(07:00):
I'm looking at. But I agree with you, it is concerning,
and that's why I do still view the Niners as
the number one contender in the NFC. That's why I
think the Vikings are right there with the Lions, because
I think both of these are very talented offenses that
are very well coached, that are just solid at the
quarterback position. I do think that the Lions are a
(07:22):
little more talented. I think that they have the slightly
more loaded offense. I mean, they're also just so dominant
in the trenches. As you mentioned, they're the best offensive
line in football with all this skilled position talent and
this great play calling. But defensively, I do trust Minnesota more.
I do not think Detroit is a bad defense. I
think they have the potential to be a good defense.
I think the first three weeks were mostly positive from
(07:44):
them defensively, and the first half of this game was
positive from them. But you still let up thirty eight
first downs in five hundred and fifteen yards to an
offense that couldn't protect their quarterback and couldn't run the
ball for half the game. So I do think that
that's the one red flag that remains for them. Overall, though,
I don't think that this is a concerning game for
Detroit because I did think so much of this was
(08:05):
just like Gino playing at an unbelievably high level. Hot
take Logan. I understand that Jared Goff was literally perfect
in terms of his efficiency in this game. I thought
Gino Smith was clearly the more impressive quarterback on the field,
just the uphill battle he was having to fight some
of the throws that he made. Goff executed, but I
want to say two thirds of his completions in this
(08:28):
game were out of play action, Like so much of
this is set up by the run game. So much
of this is after the catch, as you mentioned, but
that's this offense, the recipe.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
He had less than one hundred air yards in this game.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Hilarious, But that's how the Lions can win.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Man. They have playmakers. With the emergence of Jamison Williams,
we know about Laporta, we know about amnro Khalif Raymond
I think has been solid, and then they're just gonna
run the ball better than basically anybody else in football.
So I thought Ben Johnson cooked in this game. I
thought the trick play was beautiful. I will say one
little nitpick at the end of this game. There's no
(09:04):
reason to put Jared Goff in a position to be
Jared Goof and take that safety. You're up fifteen. You're
guaranteed to force the Seahawks under the two minute warning,
Like if you just run the football, the game is
over and it doesn't end up costing them. It was
very unlikely that they could mess that up. In any way,
shape or form, and generally I love Dan Campbell's aggression.
That's just not a spot to be aggressive, right. Aggression
(09:27):
is situational. It's about the moments in which you choose
to attack. It's also about the plays you draw up.
There's just no need to take that risk. And also
there was a lack of discipline defensively at the end
of this game. Twelve penalties for Detroit in this one.
A little bit sloppy, but overall, you put up forty
two points in a football game, even against a decimated defense,
(09:48):
that's a testament. This was a top five offense last year,
top five offense.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Two years ago. I think this is the best offense
that they've had.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
With the emergence of Jamison Williams and another year of
that Jamior Montgomery backfield really phenomenal there, and they're absolutely
a real deal contender. It's just what ceiling does this
defense reach That remains to be seen. Let's talk about
the other side of this game, though, Logan, because the
Seahawks were fighting an uphill battle, just devastated defensively. They
(10:15):
come into this game three and zero, but neither you
or I had them in our top ten in our
power rankings. Are you impressed by this game from Seattle?
What do you take away for them?
Speaker 1 (10:25):
I mean, I am impressed by Seattle in general, Like
I think they're going to be more competitive than I
predicted in the preseason, and I think that Seattle can
still win a playoff game even without having a really
good offensive line. I'm look at the Seahawks as a
team that could upset another one in the wildcard and
the reason they weren't in my top ten yet it
wasn't offensively. I believe in this offense and Gino Smith.
(10:46):
I talked about Brock Purdy on our last episode, how
just heat impressed me through the start of the season.
I mean, Gino is another guy that is right on
the frime to that top ten. He wouldn't be in
the top ten for me, but when we're talking seeing
the light, when we're talking eleven through thirteen, like Gino
puts balls where like pinpoint accuracy where they need to
(11:07):
be with the exact right velocity, And I just think
I've undersold how much he's you know, like duct tape,
like patchwork almost fixed this offense with how bad this
offensive line is, Like he is under dress all the time,
and he is so comfortable, he's so good at extending
plays and making plays when there isn't anything like it's
(11:29):
a it's not a good offensive situation with the line,
because I do think he's got exceptional skill position guys
dk JSN, Lockett, Walker, Charbona, all those guys are great.
But this offensive line is one of the worst in
the NFL. And I think it's a testament to Ginosmith's
ability that this team is this good week in week
out with that bad of an offensive line. So even
(11:50):
though I don't trust him, and that's still a big
red flag for me, I think they could win a
playoff game. But the reason that they're not in my
top ten, and they probably won't be until I see
a little more from them, is I wanted to see
this defense under actual stress against a good offense. You know,
you play the Patriots, you play the Broncos, like, I'm
just not going to be moved by beating up on
(12:11):
like Jacoby Brissett and bow Nicks and lackluster QB talent.
And there were some numbers that were encouraging. They were
number one in yards per play, they were number one
in yards per drive. They were number four in points
per drive. They were number one in opposing quarterback passing
yards per attempt coming into this game. I mean they
were tops across the league. The one concerning number to me,
(12:33):
and what I thought we did see get exposed a
little bit about the Seattle defense was the rushing defense.
They were a league average rushing defense coming into this game.
They were the worst group there last year. And this
is an extreme version of this because I think Detroit
is just so elite at running the ball between the tackles,
like I think Seattle is improved in that regard, but
(12:54):
I don't think they're like an elite run stopping unit.
And I still think that's probably the biggest, you know,
the biggest achilles heel of this defense, so to speak. Again,
I say it's extreme because the Lions are just gonna
decimate so many teams. But I still think that's the
weakness of the Seattle defense. But I like the surrounding pieces.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Man.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I like the secondary. I think Devin Witherspoon's one of
the best corners in the game, and the secondary at
full strength, because they did get dotted up a little
bit tonight, but they were down some key guys in
the secondary. So overall, Carson, I've been moved through four
weeks by Seattle, I have been meaningfully moved. Like, I
don't think they're an elite contender. I wouldn't put them
in that tier. But is this team a playoff contender?
(13:33):
Like at this point, i'd be surprised if Seattle wasn't
in the playoffs. And they're gonna push San Francisco. I
think it's gonna be really close. With how San Francisco
stumbled out of the gates, I think they can push
San Francisco and make this a close division race just
because they got a little bit of a lead. Right,
you win some Indivision games, maybe you steal one from
(13:54):
San Francisco. I think Seattle could be, you know, pushing
them right there at the end. I would probably still
take San Francisco to win this division, but I think
Seattle just I'm impressed by Gino. Man, it's a lot
to do with Gino. Like, I think I think Gino
can carry this offense week in week out and keep
them competitive. So yeah, I think it's gonna take a
few things breaking their way down the stretch, but yeah,
(14:17):
I could see Seattle I think they're number two in
this division. I think it's this year at least. I
think it's San Francisco. I think it's Seattle. I think
it's Arizona and then LA in that order. Yeah, I'm
impressed with Gino legitimately. That's why I have faith in
this team more so than anything else though.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Thank god, man, because you know I love you, Logan.
But I don't know if there was a take of
years that appalled me more throughout the offseason then the
way you talked about Geno Smith. I imagine it was the
way that you felt as you were watching me say,
you know what, I think I'm gonna get cheeky and
take the Cowboys to go to the Super Bowl. I mean, Logan,
I hate to bring it up, but you said you
would take Russell Wilson over the man.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I almost vomited. I mean, Camden died on camera, so.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Called Russell Wilson a Hall of Fame quarterback then too.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yeah, man, No, you were drunk, dude, I believe you
were drunk on the pod at the time.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
But still I went back and I looked at my
QB list, because I always have a running QB list
in my notes app oh, man, I was disgusted, frankly
with my thing, dude, I had like man, I had
Russ over toua bro like. I was actually tripping. I've
updated it since then, so I'm up to date. But yeah, man,
(15:28):
I was on something. I'm not quite sure what I
was on at the time, but I was on something.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I remember, Dude, I was getting excited about Gino because
I picked the Seahawks to make the playoffs, and I said,
Gino's a huge part of that. I think he's a
good quarterback. I thought after the twenty twenty two season
he played at a top ten level. I had him
in that top ten range. And then you looked at
me in the eyes and you said Geno's not that good.
Gino doesn't move me. And I just thought, Logan, you
wounded me. I love Gino. I called you racist at
(15:54):
the time. I wish I had and I didn't mean it.
But Gino's that guy. Man.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
He is accurate as hell.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
He has elite accuracy, but at the same time, he's audacious.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Man.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
If he sees a tight window, he is willing to
let it rip. He has the arm talent to do it,
the arm strength and he has the accuracy, the pinpoint precision,
and he's got the mindset to be willing to take
those chances. So he's thrown a few picks this year.
I really don't mind. This offense needs him to be aggressive.
They need him to carry them and also ability to
(16:26):
avoid sacks. I mean, he takes three in this game,
but my god, dude, it could have been eight. Like
he is having to consistently navigate these extremely crowded pockets
and oftentimes hang in there right, not necessarily escape and
start rolling out, like keep himself available in terms of
throwing to the entire field, stay in the pocket, but
just like definitely dance around these defensive linemen closing in
(16:50):
on him. I'm so impressed by Geno. There's one third
and long in this game that he just miraculously escapes
and throws a dart into a tight window to lock it.
He made some unbelievable throws to DK, including one that
DK dropped on the sideline that was like perfectly placed.
The pick at the end of this game literally means
nothing to me, although he could have thrown one to
(17:10):
Azeloni that would have been worse. But yeah, man, I
have faith in him. I think he makes this a
good offense. I'm worried about the line. I think the
line is just bad. I want to see the run
game be more consistent. Kenneth Walker got going in that
second half, but did nothing in the first half. But
I feel good about this offense overall. In the defense,
(17:30):
it's tough to take anything away.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
When you're down boy mafe you're down, Leonard Williams, you're down.
Byron Murphy, you're down, Jerome Baker, you're down in WOESU Like,
this is the second string defensive line, and I didn't
think the defensive line would be a strength of this group.
But I do think Leonard Williams is great. I think
Mafey is very good. So when you're without those dudes
against the team that is the best in football in
(17:53):
the trenches like no shocker, you're gonna get bullied, and
then Julian Love gets injured mid gain, Like, I want
to see more or from the Seahawks defense. I want
to see them tested, because you're right, they had a
Mickey Mouse slate in the first three weeks. I mean,
facing the two A list Dolphins and the Broncos and
the Pats. Those are three of the five worst offenses
in football, probably, but I think they're talented and I
(18:15):
do think that they should be a solid defense. They
just got bullied and it wasn't good on any level.
I mean, they weren't very good in coverage in this game.
They're tackling was bad. When the Lions got to the
second level, like they were still able to get what
they want, but I think that line was just ridiculous.
You can't allow forty two points in an NFL game,
no matter what Detroit late in this game before they
(18:37):
were just trying to run out clock. At the very end,
they had run forty six plays only and they had
forty two points. So there's a duality where it's like, yes,
this is basically a second string defense, but also you
still can't get destroyed like that. I just think it's
tough to have hard takeaways. I don't think they're in
the San Francisco tier. I think San Francisco is just loaded.
(18:57):
But I do think they should be a wild card team.
That's how I felt preseason. Gino's a component of that.
I like Mike McDonald. I think this defense will progress,
and I thought overall, this was an encouraging showing when
you can produce like this offensively, even when the run
game was struggling early facing a really good defensive front.
I thought it was positive overall for Seattle. I thought
(19:18):
they were gonna get blown out. We both thought they
were gonna get blown out in this game. Their offense
kept them in it.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
So did I.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
I mean, anytime the Lions do a punch man, they
answered and like, Seattle made them pay. Like that's the
thing is. Detroit may have committed all these penalties and
stuff like that, but Gino in this offense made them
pay every single time. So I do I view I
view Seattle on a completely different light than I did
before this season. I didn't look at them as a
(19:44):
real contender. I thought they'd be extremely mid Yeah, I
think this is a wildcard football team, man, And Gino
is the guy that's moved me the most. I mean,
I was just wrong. I was just wrong on Gino. Man.
He's again, when we're talking about outside of the elite
window of quarterbacks, it's you know, right outside my top
(20:04):
ten right now. It would be Rogers, it would be
pretty and it would be Gino all lingering right there,
ready to take somebody's spot. You know, Gino over golf, Yeah, Geno,
I think so, it's very close. I think that, Yeah,
I take Geno over golf though, like and I think
people will look at the numbers, but situation is the
(20:26):
important context. His stat line is ridiculous in this game.
But I just think Gino can do more man the
play extension. I think his feel is better, and I
know Gino can get aggressive, but he doesn't have Jared
Goof moments, right, Jared Goof has Goof moments. Geno to
me is just a bit of a gunslinger, like he's
willing to take risks, and I like that more than
(20:48):
you know, golf actually has Goofer moments. Gino does it
for the most part.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
And Gino has to take risks in his offense. You know,
they're run for five yards per carry. Like, it's a
very different situation.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Real quick.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Before we move on to this next game, I just
want to ask, because I thought this was a really
interesting play. Do you think Connor Williams, the center was
right to snap that ball. When it's fourth and goal
for the Seahawks, you have two timeouts, you're down thirteen.
You got to get a score there. Do you think
that he was right because the offense wasn't ready, but
the defense also wasn't ready to play the alternative. The
(21:22):
alternative is calling a timeout or to or eating the
delay a game.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
I mean, I I can see it from his perspective,
just seeing the you know, the play clock tick down.
Like I understand his his logic. I don't know what
I do in that situation. Man, you don't want to
take the delay a game. And I think maybe he
was just thinking. My my thinking was that he probably
was just ready to go when it hit won anyway, right,
(21:49):
like it hadn't been snapped yet.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
That's a tough spot, but I don't fault him. I
think that was the right decision.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Yeah, tough to even say. Right. He might not have
been a decision.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Maybe he literally just did it, but he didn't seem
that he was given any signal to snap the ball,
So it seemed like he was probably just like, all right,
fuck it, we can't e the penalty with candy to
time out here.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
I thought it was the right thing to do.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
I think somebody might have been asking about Kyler Kyler.
I don't know. I thought somebody's asking my Coyle. I
think Kyler's in my top ten now too, Dude, I've
been moved by Kyler enough.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Bro imagined the Kyler. Oh no, there is a Kyler mentioned.
Kyler's tough. I would have Kyler above Geno.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Kyler's in my top ten now for sure.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
And yeah it's close.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
But Kyler's such a ridiculous creator.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Man I concur, I concur.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Anyways, I just thought that was an interesting little instance
of balancing your priorities. You're going to be in a
rough spot either way, but like at the end of
the day, because the defense wasn't ready to go, like,
it's weird. Obviously, Gino could have fumbled the ball and
that would have been worst case scenario, but he didn't.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
He caught it.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
He threw from a clean pocket to a pretty open
receiver just barely missed him. I thought it ended up
being not a bad outcome for the Seahawks. All right, guys,
we're gonna take a quick break. Then we will talk
about the delightful football game that was Titans Dolphins. Hooray
(23:23):
td Tuddy taking it to the house in for six
whatever you call a touchdown. One thing's for sure, touchdowns
matter more at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner
of the NFL.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
On the ground, in the air, from the special teams
or the defense. We don't care how they score them.
We want to bet on touchdowns, and Drafting sports Book
is delivering ready to place your first bet. Try betting
on something simple like picking a player to score a
touchdown or how many tds will be in a game.
Go to the Drafting sports Book app and make your pick.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
Ready to do a touchdown dance of your own. New
DraftKings customers bet five dollars to get two hundred dollars
in bonus bets. Instantly score big with DraftKings Sportsbook, the
number one place to bet touchdowns. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook
app and use code nerds that's code nerds for new
customers to get two hundred dollars in bonus bets when
(24:14):
you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
The Crown is yours gambling problem called one eight hundred
Gambler or in West Virginia, visit one eight hundred gambler
dot net. In New York call eight seven seven eight
open wired text Hope and y four six seven three
six nine in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling
call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven
seven or visit CCPG dot org. Please play responsibly on
(24:39):
behalf of boothill casinomen resorting Kansas twenty one and over
age varies by jurisdiction Voyd and Ontario. Bonus bets expire
one hundred and sixty eight hours after issue. Ince See
DKNG dot co slash bball for eligibility and deposit restrictions,
terms and responsible gaming resources.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
We're getting a.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Lot of outrage in the chat for not giving Kenneth
Walker enough credit. I thought Kenneth Walker played a very
good game. I thought he played an awesome second half.
But it's not mince words. It was the Genos Show,
it was the Gino Show. Kenneth had a couple of
awesome plays. He's good, there's no question. I mean, producing
with this efficiency behind this old line, played very well,
played very well.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Yeah. I mean he's a step up from Sharbona. I
really think you saw this offense lose some punch when
he was out. Both of those running backs are good.
I mean, all the skill position talent here is all
the skill position talent here is really good. I mean,
the depth here, the fact that you have Walker and Sharbona,
the fact that you've got you know, Lockett JSN. The
loaded the Seahawks offense is it's really good. I mean
(25:42):
to disrespect him.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Only they could block.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
This could be one of the best offenses in the league. Man,
they're playing from a deficit.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Yeah all right, well, you know who looks very very
far from the best offense.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
In the league that they once were lowing.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Last year, the Miami Dolphins were ding records. This year,
they are getting destroyed by the Tennessee Titans of the world.
Here's what really stands out to me and shocks me
about Miami right now. The fact that they came into
this season knowing Tua's injury history, with the concussions, with
(26:17):
one of the worst backup quarterback situations in football Skyler
Thompson Tyler Hunley plays in this game. Both of those
guys are incapable of running a functional NFL offense. That
just blows my mind, considering the offensive talent they have
that they're wasting because they can't even get competent quarterback play.
How do you feel about Miami right now?
Speaker 1 (26:38):
I mean, you're cooked, absolutely cooked, man. And I mean
I think you see it in the emotions of the
guys on the sideline, like the team looks defeated. The
vibes are horrible. You got Tyreek Pode walking over to
the sideline, you know, just angry, and again everybody just
seems defeated. We're four games end of the season, man,
(27:00):
we got thirteen more weeks of football, Like, this is
not the time to put your head down, right. It's
like we always talk about when you can take the
hope out of a out of a team, they're done.
And I like Tyler Huntley, this is a hard offense
to run, like Pro Bowler. That was the nail in
the coffin for the Pro Bowl, man, Like when they
(27:22):
did it online and they had like the Pro Bowl
Gaming version and then they said, oh, we're gonna play
flag football and then we're gonna play Tic Tac toe
or whatever side show. The real nail in the coffin
was the Tyler Huntley Pro Bowl because then it's like
the Pro Yeah, at least he had a good year.
I mean Huntley, he was a He had two tds
(27:42):
and three picks that year. I mean, come on, man, like, yeah,
but you're exactly right, Carson. I think it is all
on Mike McDaniel that they didn't have a guy ready
to go, and you see the true value of having
a backup quarterback that you can put in. Last year,
Joe Flacco steps in for Deshaun Watson. The season is lost,
but this team is good around them, steps in wins
(28:05):
them a bunch of games, gets them to the playoffs.
Like this year, Bryce Young, the Panthers are done after
two weeks. This team looks like they can go on.
In seventeen, Andy Dalton comes in and injects them with life.
You don't have anybody reliable that can operate an offense,
like I know they went out and got Hungy and
elevated him from the practice squad. I might be looking
(28:28):
for somebody else. And it's just it sucks because you're
now at this spot where week to week you are
scrambling to find anybody who can operate your offense. And
it's hard getting guys ready to learn the play calls
and learn the routes in the playbook. And it's hard
finding a guy who has the talent one you know
(28:48):
at this stage in his career that can play that
still has the ability, the desire in the arm, and
then it's hard getting them up to speed week to
week to go against NFL defenses. It's just a lot.
And you're exactly right, man. I mean, Skyler Thompson was
never the answer. Tim Boyle was never the answer. Tyler
Huntley is not the answer. And the more concerning thing
to me, Carson, is this defense can't stop anything. I mean,
(29:12):
they got eaten alive tonight. My thing is just they're
so predictable right now, Carson. Without Tua, you're expecting this
team to run on early downs, so you're gonna stack
the box, You're gonna slow that down. It sets them
up for third and longs, and that's where you got them,
Like you can just kind of play off them and
play them to the sticks. It just makes them look really,
(29:33):
really predictable. And to that, I got to give credit
to Tua a little bit, man. I Mean, this offense
never looked this bad without Tua. I bag on the
guy a lot, but.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Not even close.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
He gets them going. He makes this one of the
top offenses in the league. Like I think I was
a little too. I think I underrated Toua just because
of all the talent here. You can't just put anybody
in this situation. But I mean, they look lifeless, Carson.
The Dolphins look let lifeless at this point in the season,
and I don't know what's going to turn it around
(30:04):
for them. I still think that if they find the
quarterback that they can figure it out and they can
win some football games. But it's like, this is the
strength of your football team. It reminds me of the Rams.
It's like, now that the Rams are down all this
talent and they have no route to winning on the
side of the football that they're supposed to win on,
You're just not going to be a good team. I
think the Dolphins are dead in the water, man. This
(30:26):
team looks lifeless. The vibes are off, the offense can't move,
the defense is getting marched on. I think they're done for.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
It's horrible. And look, I've never been an optimist about
the long term outlook for the Dolphins because I don't
think that their defense has been what it would need
to be for them to be a serious contender. And
I've always been worried about the quarterback position in those
real high stakes matchups against heavy hitters where you need
big time plays in tough conditions against the league defenses.
(30:56):
Two hasn't been good there. The Dolphins offense hasn't been
good there. But to reiterate my initial point, I just
think that this is flagrant mismanagement of your football team
by the Miami Dolphins. Like to a missed fifteen games
over his first three years man, and it was awesome
that he was healthy for all of last year, But
there was no reason to expect that that was the norm.
(31:18):
If you had an Andy Dalton, if you had a
Carson Wentz. I mean, there are numerous high end backups.
If you had a Tyrod Taylor.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Man, this could be were available man.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Dudes available for the cheap. Like if you just had
a competent, veteran quarterback who could get the ball to
your weapons, who could make this offense function at a
basic level, right, who could just throw with timing and
decent anticipation and accuracy, you would still be a competitive
football team. You would take a step down. But like
(31:50):
I legitimately think they could be a good offense with
dudes who could just do the basic stuff, and instead
it's Skylar Thompson who's awful. I have no idea why
he'd ever be your plan B in Week one of
a season with a historically injury prone quarterback. And Tyler
Huntley just can't throw the ball, man. I mean, he's
given you five point seven yards per pass attempt in
his career in the league. He was a much better
(32:12):
fit in the Raven system, Like he made some sense
as a backup there because of that, and still the
offense always sucked when he played. Like how many times
have we given the numbers? They put up twenty eight
points per game with Lamar, they put up seventeen points
per game with Tyler Huntley, Like that's a massive, massive differential.
I don't know where the Tyler Huntley enthusiasm has come from,
maybe his Pro Bowl, maybe the Pro Bowl stands, but
(32:35):
it's just really, really, really disappointing to watch the fastest
offense I've ever seen, the offense that I still think
has the best receiving duo in football, incapable of even
getting those dudes the ball. Like their season is obviously over.
I think their future outlook is bleak because of how
much they've paid to and questions about him long term.
But you had a chance to save this season. You
(32:57):
had a chance to be a respectable football team, could
have called up Ryan Tannehill for his big return to Miami.
Like legitimately, all of these would have kept you in
football games, and instead you're just getting boat raced by
everybody you play. You don't even look like an NFL team.
You haven't looked like an NFL team in three weeks.
In preseason, it was expected that you would make the playoffs.
So I think it's a complete disaster for them in
(33:19):
every way. On the flip side of this logan, the
Titans win a game, but they do so with their
young quarterback on the sidelines. Will Levis leaves this game
in the first quarter with shoulder injury, stays on the sideline,
does not return.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Though.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Are you doing a dance there? What is that? What's
that reaction?
Speaker 1 (33:38):
I'm pushing them out agenda. I'm about to push my agenda.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
I see. Let's hear it. Let's hear it. We haven't
been the biggest Will Levis enthusiasts. You have called multiple
times already for Mason Rudolph to be the starter here.
They put your boy Mason in, they win a game.
What do you take away from that?
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Well, first of all, I just want to say this
may be the worst football game ever played. This was
a comedy of errors throughout this game.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
That's bad ones this year.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Will Levis's interception and then him injuring himself scrambling. Next,
just a bunch of drop passes, and this had like
the weirdest end of the first half I think I've
ever seen where Duke Riley for the Dolphins cluelessly tries
to touch the football as a part of the returning team,
which would have given the Titans the ball at the
(34:25):
end of the first half, end up getting points because
Mason Rudolph makes it way. But you just can't touch, man.
You just bugging over the air. She's all right, is
she doing?
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Is she tweaking?
Speaker 1 (34:35):
She's tweaking. Dide you chill man.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
I think to attack you, bro. I think she may
have a heat seeking missile on you right now.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
She's starting up her old forward right now. Real anyways,
you can't touch that ball like he would have given
a Titans great field position and reminded me of Leon
Lett touching that football at the into this Huntley fumbles
a snap and ends up having it was just like
the longest end of a first half. I can ever remember,
and it was a comedy of airs. But yeah, man,
(35:08):
the Titans should have been put in Mason Rudolph. The
offense should have been better under Brian Callahan. Like I
think the skilled position talent is legitimately good, DeAndre Hopkins,
Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, TYJ. Spears. I don't think the
offensive line is bad. I like J. C. Latham, I
like Scarnsky, I like Dylan Radunes. And they're too clever, right.
(35:29):
They got Brian Callahan from Cincinnati because he's an offensive guy,
and I think you see it in this game. The
prestat motion is just confusing defenses, all the moving parts.
It's really clever. And yeah, man, I'm always gonna be
impartial to Mason Rudolph because he saved me from Mitchell Trubisky.
God bless you, Mason. Thank you. You won us some games,
(35:51):
you got us to the playoffs. And I legitimately think
Mason is a good like starter. I think he can
be an average starter for you, and he's he's a
better stabilizer than Levis. That's why I prefer him. Like
you might not have the highlights, the deep bombs from
Levis or the scrambles, but there's gonna be a lot
less low points and boneheaded mistakes. First drive steps in,
(36:14):
makes throws, gets them a field goal into the first half.
Dot for twenty seven yards gets them into field goal range.
And I don't think his numbers are going to back
this up. And he didn't need to do a whole
lot in this game. I don't want to blow too
much smoke here because they do just end up running
the hell out of the ball in this game. And
had honestly very little to do with Mason Rudolph, but
(36:36):
he made some good throws in this game. He hit
de Andandre Hopkins in rhythm between two defenders, Hopkins just
dropped it. He had a great throw to Ridley on
the sideline that Ridley just dropped. He's just got a
different kind of veteran presence, and that's something that I've
come to value more and more as I continue to
watch football year after year. There's value in having a
guy that has been around the league that is comfortable
(36:59):
are gonna make mistakes. That's inevitable when you play as
important a position as QB. Mason Rudolph is certainly not
going to be perfect, but he just has a different
kind of poison comfortability in the pocket. He doesn't look
erratic and you know, scared like Lewis does at some points.
He looks controlled and for a team like this, specifically
(37:20):
because I think Will Levis is not done. I think
he is still very talented and could very well pan
out to be a good quarterback in this league. For
a roster like this, I just think Mason Rudolph gives
you the best chance to win games. You've got a
good defense that I believe in. I think your offense
is good legitimately, like, I think you could be an
(37:41):
average to good football team, and Will Levis handicapped some
of that by throwing football games away. Mason Rudolph is
not going to come in here and be superman. But
he's also not just gonna give games away to the
other team like Lewis has early in this season. So yeah, man,
I don't know if they're gonna do it, but I
just think Mason Rudolph gives you a better chance to
win football games. Right. So now, it's kind of like
(38:02):
the Bryce versus Andy Dalton dynamic. It's not to that extreme,
but it's it's similar. I think Mason gives you a
better chance to win games right now, so I would
go with him moving forward.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
It's tough.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
I do think that Mason is a better option if
your pure objective is win now. The thing is, I'm
not that high on the Titans, and listen, if Will
Levis wasn't their starter, they very well could be three
and one right now. Like he basically threw away the
first two games. He has nine turnovers logan in three
(38:36):
games and a quarter. Like it's brutal. He said he
didn't see aug but today after he threw the pick,
I don't know how he missed him, like the big
as hell Will. That's what I'm saying, dude, first career
pick for Emmanuel Logbuck, congratulations, but yikes, man, yikes, he's
got multiple more turnovers than anybody else in football. The
(38:57):
conflict here is just if you're the Titans, what is
your ceiling. I don't think it's high. I don't think
there's a world in which they make the playoffs. They're
also not going to be as bad with Levis, where
it's like, oh my god, our entire morale has been broken.
We might not win a game, we might not survive
this season. As a coaching staff like it was with Bryce.
(39:17):
He also just has more physical tools than Bryce. So
I can see a pretty compelling pitch for listen. We
just want to see what we have in him, and honestly,
that's the side that I air on.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
It's frustrating for a young quarterback to lose you games.
It's just what are you really gaining if you get
to seven wins, maybe eight instead of five if you're
the Titans this year because of your quarterback. I don't
think that's enough to offset seeing what you have in
Levis because the physical tools are there. I've been on
the side of I think he's frankly just too prone
(39:51):
to these backbreaking mistakes, and I don't think the physical
tools are special enough.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
But there are stretches where.
Speaker 3 (39:56):
He's pushing the ball downfield and he's moving outside the pocket.
He has the legs, he has a well above average
NFL arm just in terms of pure strength, and his
accuracy isn't even bad. Like he's just stupid. He's stupid
a few times a game, and I don't think that's
something that he's going to overcome to become completely completely agree.
(40:20):
I don't think it is My take is just your
roster's not good enough for me to shy away from
trying it for at least a little bit longer and
seeing what he has, So I would still keep Levis
out there. If they don't, I don't think it's the
end of the world because I'm not a believer in
Will Levis. But with these teams man young teams with
young quarterbacks, I generally am on the side if you're
(40:41):
already starting him out there, give him a bit of
a leash.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Yeah, I can hear. I can see the argument for
both sides. My thing is just I don't know, you
don't want to alienate the locker room, Like, yeah, in
my opinion, if for sure, if will because you're going
to create a bigger storm for yourself. If Levis comes
out last week or next week, excuse me, you lose again,
and then you really have this ass. Yes, there are
(41:11):
very few quarterbacks that I've seen in the NFL that
have this kind of raw ability but are just hampered
by their brain. Like I don't mean this in a
mean but like Will Levis is like a blonde quarterback,
like he just has these.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
Just stereotyping that's gonna be fifteen yards for stereotype come but.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
Like these these crippling blonde moments where I'm like, oh,
will come.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
On, man, Like will we know? Will you don't throw
the ball backwards? There you're being wrapped up and there's
no receiver in the vicinity.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
And I know Mason isn't going to have as many
of those moments. But I disagree a little bit in
saying that you don't think this team is ready. I
think with the state of their division, I think with
how bad, how bad of a dumpster fire the Jags are,
with how competitive I think they can be against the Colts.
You know, I think the Titans are good enough to
(42:03):
make like a wildcard push. It may be late, which
is how big of a hole they've dug themselves. But
I do think this roster isn't far away. Man. I
like the defense. I think that the pass rush is good.
I like their linebackers like I like their defense overall.
And then their offense is close to the league average,
if not right around there. Like I don't know, man,
(42:23):
I'm I think the Titans are all right. I think
they're talented enough to make a wildcard push. But you
do make a good point The other part of this
is I talk about alienating the locker room. If you
come out and lose next week Will Levis. Do you
want to alienate Will Levis? If you do think he's
your franchise quarterback, you don't want to give up on
him here, Like I understand that argument too, But I do, man,
(42:46):
I wonder if this is going to be the thing
that holds Levis back from ever being like a reliable starter.
Just yea boneheaded mistakes because he's got all the talent. Man,
for sure. It's just cutting out on those fuse plays
a game, and I don't know if he can do it.
We've seen it so many times. It's like every game,
I need to see him clean those up. But I do, man,
(43:07):
I'm always gonna air on the side of who gives
me the best chance to win an individual football game.
I'm about winning games. I think Mason Rudolph does that
for you.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
That's fair.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
I think that we are sort of on the opposite
sides of this. I think I air on the side,
especially when a quarterback is physically talented, of giving them
a little bit of a leash because it takes time
to figure this stuff out.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
It's just inevitable.
Speaker 3 (43:29):
Maybe it's because I watched such a ridiculous development trajectory
with Josh Allen, something that is not often replicated. A
point when I see a football team that has a
dude who is physically talented, I don't think you can
expect a guy you draft knowing that he's robbed, that
he has tools to just four games in the year
(43:49):
two have it figured out.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
And to be clear, I.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Think will Levis is a pretty extreme example of doing
dumb stuff. I have never been on the side of
saying that I think he is going to be a
successful quarterback. But I'm just maybe not as high on
like the Titans win now potential to where I'm like,
you're robbing this team. It's frustrating when your quarterback cost
you games. But they're more capable than I expected. They're solid.
(44:14):
I still think they'd be headed for a seven win
season with Mason something like that. But I mean, so
then it's like, I don't know, does that move the needle?
Speaker 2 (44:22):
No.
Speaker 1 (44:22):
My thing with that Carson is the margins between winning
seven games and winning nine games are so close, Like
you know, that's just the nature of football. But I
get it. I get it. Will Man. As Bill Walla said,
it takes twenty four games, and know what you got
in a QB man, You need a big sample size.
I'm in no way ready to give up on the
(44:44):
guy yet, but I do think Mason gives him a
better chance to win. So it's it's complicated. It's not
an easy dynamic man. Especially again, Will's tossed away two games.
Mason manages you to your first win. That's when the
conversations creep up.
Speaker 2 (44:59):
No, I agree.
Speaker 3 (45:00):
I think Mason Rudolph gives them a better chance to win. Now, absolutely,
it's just valuing. How important is that to you? How
much do you care about Will Evis. First of all, Logan,
you and I are big, big opponents of the sunken
cost fallacy taking control. Just because you invested a pick
on somebody doesn't mean that you need to continue to
invest in them.
Speaker 2 (45:19):
If it's not there, it's not there.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
And it's not like they took him first overall, right,
they took him in the second round, So I would
be outraged if they went with Mason Rudolph going forward.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
I'll say that, all right.
Speaker 3 (45:27):
Appreciate you guys tuning in. Hope you enjoyed if you did.
As always, there's plenty more NERD SESSH content. You can
find all of our full shows talking NFL and NBA
on our YouTube channel. We reacted to all of yesterday's games.
Go check that out if you haven't, and we are
continuing to pump out NBA season preview content. You can
also listen to all this across our audio platforms, but
(45:50):
you can find us some bonus content on YouTube as well.
Logan's been doing some film breakdowns on young quarterbacks. We
have some NBA video essays you can lock in on
all of that. You can also follow us across social TikTok,
Instagram at nerd Sash, Twitter at nerd Underscore Sesh and
you can join our discord if you want.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
The link to that is at the link tree.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
Across our social media bio, people are asking, People are asking, Carson,
are you on the via hemp right now? You wouldn't
know if I was. That's how functional you remain on
the via hemp while having a great time. You would
have no idea, you'd be none the wiser. So that's
all I'll say. One last shout out to Via with that.
As always, I've been Carson brabber I have
Speaker 1 (46:29):
Been logging Camden and this was nerd Sash
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.