On today's episode of The Insiders, Tom Pelissero and the Insiders take a look at the Week 1 matchup between the Ravens and Chiefs and discuss the outlook for each team as they head toward the new season. The Insiders look ahead to the fantasy football season with Michael F. Florio and tell you which players are being drafted too high, too low, and which stars on a new team you want to avoid. Plus, a discussion about a pair of rookie QBs who could start the season under center and Brian Baldinger's upcoming trip to the Sack Summit in Las Vegas, where Baldy will get his eyes on some of the NFL's top pass rushers.
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 (00:04):
Welcome inside with the Insiders. I am Tom Pelsero, happy
to be here with you.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
We got a fun hour ahead of football.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Brian Ballier is going to join the show, help us
break down the quarterback battles in New England.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It was a really interesting one in Denver. Well. It's
got so many big.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Stars, your fantasy stars with new uniforms, guys like Saquon
Barkley and Calvin Ridley. Should those guys be on your
fantasy team or should you stay away? Michael le f
Florio has the best insight in the business. He will
join this show as well. You got sixty nine days
left to get your fantasy draft done, because seventy days
for right now, we shall have football, a matchup of MVPs,
(00:48):
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens,
a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, and a
game that based upon the stage, it's the first one
of the out of the The gate is going to impact
a lot about how we're talking about the rest of
the twenty twenty four NFL season. For a lot more
on that game and other stuff, I'm sure too. Let's
(01:11):
welcome in our Brian Baldinger, as well as Omar Ruiz
and Bridget Condon.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Bridget, I'm going to start off.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
With you here because, of course we talk a lot
about the MVP Lamar Jackson, some of these shortfalls that
he and the Ravens have had during his time there
as the quarterback. This will be the first time that
he's got a certain guy lining up with him in
the backfield. What type of impact in your mind is
Derick Henry going to make, not just in Week one,
but throughout this twenty twenty four NFL.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Season, Tom Dereck Henry is going to make a big
impact on this Ravens offense. Now, the Ravens have both
the rushing leader in terms of quarterback and running back
on their team, and Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and
those two don't just have success in the regular season,
it's the playoffs too. In NFL history, those two ranked
top six when it comes to amount of rushing yards
per game in the playoffs. So how can this help you?
(02:00):
Talk back about that AFC title game Chiefs Ravens, which
is also that Week one matchup to open the season.
The Ravens lost that game. Of course, we all know
that they had just eighty one yards on the ground.
Harbaugh was asked about the lack of the ground game
after he said, that's just what the Chiefs defense was
giving us. So how can Derrick Henry impact that well?
His best asset against the Dynamics Chief's defense is his
(02:22):
ability to play keep away and grind out possessions. In
Henry's six games against the Chiefs, He's averaged one hundred
and thirteen yards on the ground. That's more than thirty
yards than what we saw in the AFC title game
from the Ravens and Mahomes. Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Get this.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
This is a good one from our research team, which
is the best of the best. They average approximately one
touchdown less when facing Derrick Henry.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Rigie.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
The thing that's interesting about this dynamic duo that you
speak of Lamar and Derek Henry is Dereck Henry. Yes,
he's played with Marcus Mariota and with Ryan Tannehill, but
nobody is Lamar. When Lamar puts the ball in your
bell and there's a mesh point there for every defense
to try to defend, who does it, Who's carrying the ball,
you don't.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Know till the final second your eyes have to be right.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
And now both these guys that you speak of and
all the stats that are out there, I mean, Dereck
Henry is going to flourish. Lamar Jackson is going to flourish.
The run game is going to flourish because you're really
not going to know what's happening. Then when Todd Munkin
mixed it in, all the misdirections and all the counters
and all of the disguises, this is going to be
a very difficult offense to defend. And so I'm with you,
(03:32):
Bridget this just should be a lot of fun. I
think he's the perfect fit. I think Dereck Henry knows
he's the perfect fitness offense, and you know, maybe this
is the fit that gets them over the hump that
they couldn't do last year.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Faulty. Let me ask the one follow up here because
I'm curious.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
From a schematic perspective, we've seen Derek Henry do a
lot of his damage through the years. Where it's the
quarterback under center, he's got a head of steam from Hawever,
many yards deep in the backfield with Lamar, there's a
significant amount of shotgun and pistol is Mark going to
be under center more? And if not, how do you
anticipate Derrick Henry is going to be able to run
out of the gun.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
I think he'll be fine. He'll be a point of
entry back. But you and we might see Lamar more
under center, you know, and let Derek Henry line up
eight yards and get that locomotive head of steam up.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
We might see a little bit more of that than
what we have seen. But I think Derek Henry is
just going.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
To enjoy getting some real runways here behind an offensive
line that should come together pretty quickly with what they
have right now. And then just the ultimate decoy and
what Lamar brings to a defense where they really don't
know if he's going to get the ball or not.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Omar, I want to bring you into the conversation here
on the other side of this matchup with the Chiefs
facing the Ravens in week one. I'm struck by this
because we were talking as late as Christmas basically about
a Chiefs team that didn't look the same as they
have in years past. They lose that home game on
the holiday to the Raiders. They folded nine and six.
They turn it around, they win the last they go
(05:00):
on the run, they go on the road in the playoffs,
and they win the whole thing. But how are the
Chiefs using the way that last season played out, because
it was not pretty for a good chunk of it,
especially on the offensive side, as they now turn their
attention to going for that three peat.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
It's interesting you bring that game up, Tom, because I
was speaking with Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Naggi earlier today
and he pointed to that game on Christmas against the Raiders,
and he says, if they don't lose that game, he's
not so sure that they win the Super Bowl. He
said that was a wake up call for that game
and the lesson that was learned there that they applied
to the playoffs that they feel they can apply to
(05:35):
the twenty four season as the intensity ratches it up
and the attention is brought to them on.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Their pursuit for a historic three peat.
Speaker 6 (05:43):
Is that they're allowed to play complimentary football. They admitted
to themselves, Okay, maybe we're not the forty points per
game Kansas City Chiefs of the past, but they could
still play not conservatively. They can still play aggressively, but
they could settle for field goals and be okay with that,
knowing special teams can bail them out, knowing that Steve
Spagnolo's defense can make a couple stops and stay in
(06:05):
the game for Patrick Mahomes to be the ultimate difference
maker at the end. That was the formula you saw
in the playoffs, and that was the formula that they'll
head into twenty four when times get tough, knowing they
can do that. Obviously, this is the third year in
a row that Patrick Mahomes is ingratiating new weapons. This year,
Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown and Neggy was tolding me
(06:25):
that Mahomes has become better and better at onboarding those players,
with the way he explains the nuances of their route running,
the intricacies of the timing. He said, it's been pressive
to watch Patrick Mahomes become a coach on the practice field,
in the meeting rooms, and of course in games. And
he said, Patrick Mahomes has become so good at this point,
(06:46):
so confident and comfortable with his abilities that even if
a player comes in and runs a route maybe differently
than what the Kansas City Chiefs normally ask of that route,
Mahomes can say hey, and this is part of welcoming
these new players of the team. I got you, I
can adjust to your route. We'll make that a part
of the offense. And that's part of the story as
(07:06):
the Chiefs welcome these new weapons into the team and
learn from that adversity they faced last year.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Baldi, you know, Omar, the marquis for this game is
that we all saw is Lamar and Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
I mean three MVPs between the two of them, and
rightfully so.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
But this also is the number one and number two
ranked defenses in the entire NFL. And when the street
the Chiefs horse struggling, like Matt Nagy explained, the defense
carried him. And I'm just it's amazing to me because
I always think it's more difficult to replace great coaches
than it is great players. And the fact that the
Chiefs haven't lost a coach and back to back winning
Super Bowl titles, the fact that Steve Spectola is still
(07:43):
there and not a head coach on place, taking his
mastermind of what he does defensively, the fact that he's
still in that roster calling defenses, Like I think this
Chiefs defense might actually even be better this coming season
than last year because of the depth that they have.
And I know losing l J. Steed and Willie gave
a big losses. But they've got great depth there and
they've got his mind. They've got one of the great
(08:05):
pressure minds in the NFL to really knock another or
the opposing offense soft stride.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
It's a credit.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
And somehow the whole staff is there, especially the whole
defensive staff. You know, the Ravens lose the AFC Championship game,
they lose Mike McDonald, they lose two other defensive coaches.
The chief didn't lose anybody there. Continuity, it's all there
right now. To go back in tryport.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Three p Mike McDonald's replacement, Zach Or, the former NFL
linebacker who just turned thirty two years old earlier this month,
first time play caller on the defensive side for a
Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations. Keep an eye on
that one as this thing moves forward. Okay, guys, don't move.
I want to turn tier to the Arizona Cardinals next,
(08:49):
because they've got some new parts as well, some new faces,
namely that guy who Cardinals fans hope you'll be seeing
a lot of Marvin Harrison Junior, the number four overall
draft pick, one of the most deductive players in all
of college football over the past couple of years. Cardinals
offensive coordinator Drew Petsing, in a very rare late June
(09:09):
press session, talked with reporters about Marvin Harrison.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
Today, how he's going to define that role. I think
that's going to continue through training camp. I certainly don't
and really for these guys, and we try to tell
that at every position, that's never done. You're always defining
and redefining your role in this league. You want a
bigger role, Earnie, you want lesser role. You're going to
show us, you know, and not that they want to
do that, but I think that's an important part of
being a good team is keeping that competition and keeping
(09:33):
that reality that no role.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Is setting stone.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Drew Betson is a fun guy to listen to because
he is going to shoot you straight. He's going to
be blunt, He's going to give you a lot of details.
Here a name to keep an eye on as a
head coaching candidate next year. Omar If this Cardinals offense
could do what a lot of people believe they can.
We had Trey mc bride on the other day and
he backed up with Judy Batista wrote that is yeah,
Kyler or the guy.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
They see right now, this can be an MVP candidate.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Where does this offense go with that healthy Kyler in
year two and Drew Petsing system plus that Marvin Errison
junior guy.
Speaker 6 (10:05):
Let's start with that relationship between Drew Petsing and Kyler
Murray obviously go a long way for the resurgent career
of Kyler Murray, and we'll see where Drew Petsing's career goes.
And if you remember a couple weeks ago, Tom Kyler
Murray said that Drew Petsing is a genius. So I
asked Petsing about that today and he said, it goes
both ways. The way Kyler understands the game, the way
Kyler can see the field certainly a tribute to Murray's work,
(10:28):
ethic and the way he has evolved as a quarterback.
And he said he wants that relationship to be to
the point where Murray is anticipating the play that Petsing
is going to call, or at least understand why he's
calling each and every play.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
And he said that relationship has.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Been fun to form over the last year and a half,
and it's gotten to the point where even in games,
when Petsing sees that Murray maybe didn't get to a
proper checkdown, he'll say, what were you thinking? And then
vice versa, when Petsing makes a bad call, Murray will
call him out and Petsing will say, hey, that's just
the first thing that came out of my mouth as
a play clock was winding down. As far these highlights,
Marvin Harrison Junior and the way he's going to fit
(11:04):
into the offense, so many different weapons. Now for the Cardinals,
we talked about Trey McBride and everybody anticipating him having
a breakout year. James Connor is coming off a career year.
We heard Michael Wilson say he's taking calls from Kyler
Murray in the middle of the night, talking about practicing
on the weekends. All those mouths to feed, and Petsing said,
it's not going to be an issue. He says it
(11:25):
points to the culture that Jonathan Gannon has built there
the last year and a half, the type of players
that Monty austen Ford has come into and Tom of course,
if that becomes an issue, how many mouths they have
to feel? That's a good problem to have for the
Arizona Cardinals offense.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
And they will get a test right out of the
gate Cardinals at Bills in Week one. Omar, don't move.
You're gonna be back with the shortly. So are Bridget
and Baldy as well. The Dolphins come out of the
gate against the Jaguars that opener in Miami. Should you
have that guy on your.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Face, Jim?
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Should you have that guy? A lot of backs, a
lot of mouse to feed, as Omar put it in
that Dolphins backfield, which one should be on your fantasy team?
Mike lef Florio joined us to break down that and
a lot more. Next on The Insiders.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Welcome back to the Insiders. I am Bridgick Condon, Tom
tel Sero having a little trouble with his camera, but
he'll be back shortly. Don't you worry. For now we
have Michael f Florio. Michael, I want to talk to
you about some of these fantasy players, especially coming into
this season. Who are some guys that have been drafted
maybe too low in the past.
Speaker 8 (12:40):
Yeah, and right now we're using best ball ADP, which
is where you draft, don't set your lineup. Your highest
scores get in, so that factors into things. But regardless,
Isaiah Picheco is being drafted too low right now.
Speaker 9 (12:52):
He averaged over.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
Nineteen Fantasy points per game in games where he played
at least sixty percent of the snaps last year. His
target rate more than doubled what it was the year prior,
and he got more and more involved in the passing
game as the season went on. And as of right now,
McKinnon still isn't there. He was relied upon heavily down
the stretch. He is my running back eight right now.
(13:14):
My only concern is sometime the Chiefs don't like to
give their back backs the full workload early on. I
also think Deontay Johnson is going too low. He is
still one of the best separators in the NFL. Last
year he had the third highest rate of uncatchable targets.
Speaker 9 (13:30):
That's on the quarterback, not on him.
Speaker 8 (13:32):
But I expect Bryce Young to take a next step
under Dave Canalis, who kind of let the Gino and
Baker resurgent years.
Speaker 9 (13:38):
And the Panthers are still gonna have to throw a bunch.
Remember Adam Fielin had a stretch as a wide receiver. One.
Speaker 8 (13:43):
I think Deontay will put up good numbers all year,
and then Chris Godwins singing in that division.
Speaker 9 (13:49):
He's coming off of a down year, but I think
he'll bounce back. Third highest rate of uncatchable targets on
downfield throws. Last year he was playing out wide. Now
we're gonna hear him. We're seeing going to see him
more in slot this year.
Speaker 8 (14:01):
And he had just six fewer targets than Mike Evans
last season. And he's going forty picks later.
Speaker 9 (14:06):
So sign me up for Chris Godwin.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
All right, and Michael. Yesterday, we talked to Austin Eckler
on the show, and one of the things he wants
for this year is to be that fantasy player that
we all remember he was a couple of years past.
Is he one of those guys drafted too high? Who
are these players that you think are maybe going too high?
Speaker 9 (14:22):
No, he's not.
Speaker 8 (14:22):
I've been a supporter of Austin Eckler in fantasy since.
Speaker 9 (14:25):
Before it was cool. I'm not jumping off for it now.
But DeVante Adams, I do think might be going just
a little too high. He started last.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
Season, his metrics declined a bit, and at thirty two
years old coming into this season, I think that is
something to be concerned about. And the quarterback play is
still going to be an issue on a team that
will rely on the ground game and their defense. So
maybe he could repeat what he did last year and
be a low end Rode receiver one, but that's where
you're drafting him at right now, and you're not getting
(14:55):
any discount for the risk, so.
Speaker 9 (14:57):
I will let other people take him. Devon is a
player who I love his talent.
Speaker 8 (15:03):
He was off the charts efficient last year and we
know how much upside he brings. But he's the seventh
running back being drafted right now, so you were paying
for the entire ceiling without taking much of the risk
into account. Where heem Moster is still there, got a
new deal, I don't think he fully goes away only
two games last year with over fifteen carries per eight
chan I even ranked at RB thirteen, So seven is
(15:25):
just a little too rich for my blood. And then
Jordan Addison averaged just ten point five points per game
without Kirk Cousins last year, and regardless of who starts
I think it is a downgrade at quarterback from Kirk Cousins.
He had just a fifteen percent target share when Justin
Jefferson was out there, and thirteen of his seventeen games
he failed to reach seventy yards. He was elevated by
(15:47):
ten receiving touchdowns, but you cannot rely on that. So
I'll let someone else take him, and I'll go get
someone a little bit more upside.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
How many days till we're drafted, Michael.
Speaker 9 (15:57):
I've been drafting since March.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Okay, get ready training camp less than a month away.
Everybody really tuned into who the best fantasy players will
be this season. Thank you so much, as always for
the great inside. Coming up after the break, do we
have a quarterback competition? Which teams have the biggest quarterback competition?
We're going to talk about bo Nix. We're also going
to talk about Patriots. Drake may stay with us here
(16:20):
on the Insider.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Six quarterbacks picked in the first twelve selections of the
NFL draft back in eight for all those six first
round selections, tying for the most in the common draft era.
But which one of those quarterbacks is going to be
fighting for a starting job.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
As we get into training camps.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Manchers on that we bring back our omaruiz Bridge at
Condon as well as Brian Baldinger. Guys, there's a situation
in right now New England where Drake May. The Patriots
made it binally clear they're not going to put him
on the field before he's ready. They brought in Jacoby
Brissette Bridget to be that veteran presence. What is it
going to take for Drake May to potentially get on
(17:10):
the field and does he have that opportunity.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
There's definitely that opportunity. But Tom, when you look at this,
there's no reason for the Patriots to rush Drake May.
Speaker 9 (17:18):
Right.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Alex van Pelt, now the offensive coordinator for the Patriots,
he was with Jacoby Brissett back in twenty twenty two
when Brissett was the starting quarterback for the Browns and
that season he had his best completion percentage and best
passer rating of any season in his career. So, look,
you have a guy in Jacoby Brissett that can help
this team. There is no need to rush Drake May.
(17:40):
And talking with people around the Patriots organization, they kind
of feel the same that there's nothing that Drake May
has shown so far during camp that says we absolutely
have to have this guy out week one. Why put
the pressure on him, let him develop, let him sit
and learn behind Jacoby Brissett. That is a very capable quarterback.
And if you look at teams who maybe rush to quarterback,
(18:01):
you can think about Jared Goff in the Rams, who
maybe he started a little too early, he hit a
really tough season. Also, Mitch Trubisky with the Bears his
first season or another UNC quarterback was tough in Chicago.
Then look out a guy like Patrick Mahomes. Right, not
comparing the two, but just remember Patrick Mahomes in his
first season sat behind Alex Smith and then he had
(18:21):
the opportunity to learn and grow and absolutely flourish in
his second season. And now he's a quarterback that is
at the top of the top of the NFL. Why
not just let Drake May sit back, wait a little bit,
get comfortable before you know, enduring all that pressure as
a week one starter.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
One of the reasons bridget that rookie quarterbacks do struggle
that get thrown in the right way is the team
around him is very good. Yeah, and the Patriots around
the quarterback position is very good. You mentioned Alex Van
Pelt and Jacoby Brissett. In twenty twenty two in Cleveland,
the Browns had one of the best offensive lines in
all football. You could always hand the ball off to
Nick Chubb in twenty twenty two. The Patriots aren't built that.
(19:00):
They're not there yet. I don't know who they're left
tackles yet. I don't know if the Patriots know who
their left tackle is protect the blindside the quarterback. And
I'm not saying put Jacobe Burssette out there just to
get beat up and hit, but at least he understands
the need and how important is get the ball out
of his hands and not hold it and not take
those hits. And so I think Drake is in a
(19:21):
position right here where if he sits, and the more
he sits, I think the more he's going to benefit
long term.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Omar.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
One of the worst kept secrets in the pre draft
process was that bone Knicks was in the mix the
potentially be the Broncos quarterback. Not a lot of people
necessarily believed it was going to happen at number twelve.
Once those other five quarterbacks went, Denver did not waste
any time tell me about the development of Bone Knicks
under a guy in Champayton who does have a good
track record of developing quarterbacks. In an interesting room right
(19:49):
now too, obviously with Zach Wilson the newest member of
that mix, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
Jared Sidham also in the mix, and Sean Payton not
tipping his hand as far as how they'll divvy up
reps when training camp begin or where the pecking order
is right now for that quarterback competition.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
But as far Bo.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
Nicks, you said, it no secret that seemingly he was
the perfect fit for Sean Payton's offense, and early returns
on Knick's development has been overwhelmingly positive. And everything we
talked about from his days at the University of Oregon
and the record sixty one college starts that he had
between the Oregon Ducks and the Auburn Tigers, as well
as the five or so different systems that he played
(20:27):
with in college, have certainly lessened his learning clerve. Obviously,
Sean Payton's offense has sophisticated as it gets in the NFL,
but his experience in those different systems Nicks had in college,
he's seen a little bit of everything that the Sean
Payton offense has to offer, but obviously called different things,
and he's still a rookie, still has to learn and
lessen with so many different things going on around him as.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
A rookie quarterback.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
But the way he's ingratiated himself into the locker room,
the way he's ingratiated himself into that quarterback room, the
way Joe Lombardi says that Nicks rarely makes the same
mistake twice, and you could feel that experience on the field.
Nothing seems to be too big for bo Nick's eve,
but nothing but please Baldy with so far his early
development there.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
I've heard the same things, Omar, and that's good to hear.
I mean, I do think sixty one starts matters, and
experience matters, and playing in different systems and on different
teams and in different leagues, all that stuff kind of
builds that MAXI that you need inside you to run
a Sean Payton offense. I don't think Sean's giving him
the job. I think there's a competition. I think Sean
(21:31):
understands that he's got to show his team because you
now the leader of the team, whoever the quarterback is
that he has earned that right to be the starter.
It hasn't been given to him, and so I think
that's good. I think the offense line has some questions.
The center position I think is more up for grabs,
and I think the quarterback position is I'm anxious to
see who wins that. I think the running back competition
(21:54):
is going to be a really good battle, and so
while we're going to focus on the quarterback, and probably
rightfully so, I think there's some other really interesting battles
in Denver that might help whatever quarterback wins that battle
have some success early on.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
One of the big frustrations for Sean Payton, and you
saw a bubble over on the sidelines at times last year,
was Russell Wilson simply not executing the plays the way
Sean Payton had drawn them up, or the way he
wanted him executed. I've had to coaches and scouts in
the pre draft process about why Bonix was a good
fit for Denver. A big part of it was he
is a coaches kid. He will do exactly what Sean
(22:30):
Payton is asking him to do. Bridget Omar, thank you
very much. Look forward to talking to you again soon.
Baldy don't move. You and I have a lot of
business coming up. This is Cam Jordan at last year's
Sex Summit. Who are some of the potential rising stars
at this year's event? Baldy breaks it down with me
next on the inside. Did you use some of that
(22:58):
autumn wind right about now in Vegas? Where at this
moment it's summer and it's hot as hell for the
sacks of it that will be kicking off in Vegas
later on this week, some of the top pass rushers
from around the NFL getting together as they have in
recent years. You know who else will be there, Our
guy Brian Baldinger, who right now is with me, Tom
(23:20):
Pelisero right here on the insiders, Balding, this is a
phenomenal event that has kind of inspired some of the
other events too that we've seen taking place for other
position groups. You get an up close look at all
these guys. Tell me some of the guys that you're
excited to see out there in Vegas.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
Well, I'm going to see Warren Stapp and John Randall
and Von Miller and Max Crosby and Cam Jordan. That's good,
not that, but there's some young guys that are going
to be there. I mean, you look at James Houston,
who was drafted by Detroit two years ago. He's from
Fort Lauderdale, ended up graduating from Jackson State. I was
there with Dion, But I call this the flying will lend,
(23:58):
hesitation and dip like he's got a creativity to them
and how he gets to the quarterback. Remember back in
twenty twenty two, he had eight sacks in seven games.
I mean he was ripping the league apart and beaten
siled left tackles like Cam Robinson here with a variety
of moves. Now he got hurt in the second week
last year, but he's going.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
To be there.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
He's going to be learning from Vonn and Max and
and Cam Jordan's some of these guys about techniques and
how to set your guy up. And then there's Klijah
Cansy and so you know, Calijah Kancy is a guy
that was the first round pick last year obviously of Tampa.
But I thought after tearing his caf in preseason, he
came on and really came on where he has an
(24:38):
array of moves, he's got a plan, he's got a
way to get there. He has absurd quickness and abilities
to defeat blocks, and I think this thing is only
especially with Sap and with Randall. There guys that play
his position. I think he's going to benefit a lot
from being around those guys. Hit sacks in both postseason
games a year ago. And then finally, I think the
(24:59):
guy that I think I'm interested in seeing is the
Buffalo Bills fifth round pick Javon Solomon from Troy. I mean,
he did have the sixteen sacks last year. He had
over thirty in his career Troy. But you know, he's
an undersized guy. He's about six to one, about two fifty,
but man, he comes off the edge. He comes off
the edge where I mean, he brings a little something
(25:22):
to the party, if you know what I mean. And
I just think this is a guy that nobody's paying
attention to, nobody's talking about, but he's gonna be up
there and Buffalo Vaughn's got almost the entire defensive line there,
aj Panessa at Oliver, They're all coming, all these rookies
are coming up there.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
I got to watch, though.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
I'm interested in just seeing his practice, habits, his quickness
and all those things.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Is this Javon Solomon from Troy.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
There's been a few pass rushers over the years from
those smaller schools have ended up having a big impact
in the NFL. John Solomon definitely a name to watch.
Baldy stick around. We're gonna be talking with you a
more a little bit later coming up after this though,
let's talk a little bit of fantasy football. Our guy
Michael F. Florio is back Stefan Diggs one of many
(26:09):
top names, big names that are on new teams in
twenty twenty four. But should they be on your fantasy team?
Florio's got answers after this on The Insiders, CG. Stroud
Stefan Diggs still building that chemistry even when they're in
(26:30):
Paris for fashion week. This is Strouded Diggs getting some
work in on whatever patch of grass they can find
right there, and that is some patchy grass on the
patcho grass.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
But hey, you take the reps where you can get them.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Less than a month from now they will be out
there on the field together in training camp. Welcome back
to the Insiders. I am Tom Pellicero, join now this
time for real by Michael F. Florio, our fantasy expert
on the show. Florio, I'm really interested in this one
with Stefan Diggs because for whatever issues may have been
surrounding the Bills offense, multiple different play callers. You could
(27:07):
go into a season knowing for certain he's gonna have
one hundred and fifty one hundred and sixty targets going
to Houston, but they've got different mix of weapons. How
do you feel about Stefan diggs stock for twenty twenty
four in fans?
Speaker 8 (27:20):
I think it certainly has to be viewed as being
lower than it has been with the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 9 (27:25):
You talk about his targets.
Speaker 8 (27:26):
He averaged one hundred and sixty targets per year in Buffalo.
Speaker 9 (27:30):
I just don't see any way he gets to that number.
Speaker 8 (27:33):
With Nico Collins and Tank Dell and then Dalton Schultz,
Joe Mixon and those other secondary options there. This could
be potentially viewed as a quarterback downgrade. And last year,
in the second half of the season, Diggs was a
wide receiver for for fantasy purposes. I'm worrying if that
was the start of early signs of decline and the
(27:53):
deep playball was what was really missing from his game.
If he loses that, then he just becomes kind of
a safe moor play in fantasy. I think it costs
right now. I'll take Nico Collins over him.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Let's talk some other big names in new places here.
Saquon Barkley goes to Philadelphia. We all know what Saquon
can do when he's healthy. He also now has new
offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who has a reputation for wanting
to throw the football a lot. Does Saquon stock rise
or fall with the move to Philly?
Speaker 8 (28:24):
I think his value goes up in Philly because this
is the best offense he's ever played in, with the
best quarterback play, best pass catchers, best downfield attack. All
of those things should help open up space near the
line of scrimmage and help create running lanes for Saquon Barkley,
who I think will remain a three down back and
hurts his legs himself. His running ability could help open
(28:47):
up some paths for Saquon. Imagine those two running the
option or something like that, and I know.
Speaker 9 (28:51):
Everyone's going to be like, but the tush push. He
could steal some touchdowns away, sure, but the Eagles are
going to score way more.
Speaker 8 (28:58):
Polling send way more touchdowns the Giants did a year ago,
so I think because of all that this is a
good thing for Sakuon and his fantasy value.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
And then how about Calvin Ridley, one of the big
surprises in free agency. A lot of people believe he's
going back to Jacksonville. All of a sudden he signs
with the Tennessee Titans. Does his stock rise or fall
after his comeback season in Jacksonville?
Speaker 9 (29:20):
I think it kind of stays the same.
Speaker 8 (29:23):
Like last year, he was a boom er bust wide
receiver two for fantasy purposes, And while I have him
ranked a little bit lower than now than I did
a year ago, I think he's his value remains pretty similar.
Last year, Will Levis led the NFL in deep pass
his hero throws and first read throws.
Speaker 9 (29:40):
Ridley should account for.
Speaker 8 (29:41):
Most of those this year, and we're already hearing that
he could play the Jamar Chase role in Brian Callahan's offense.
So I think there'll be a lot of volume and
a lot of deep shots going his way, just with.
Speaker 9 (29:51):
The quarterback play.
Speaker 8 (29:53):
It's probably going to be up and down week to week,
but there will be some huge games mixed in and
then some dead games as well.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
So to recap from Florio Draft, Saquon, Maybe draft Ridley
and draft Nico Collins. Three nuggets to keep in your
back pocket with sixty nine days left to get those
fantasy drafts in Florio, You're the man. Thank you as
always for being here. We are less than a month
away from training camp, which means well players and ex
(30:21):
players have a little time on their hands. What are
the Eagles up to those jello shots? If so, can
I have one? At about nine minutes? We'll talk about
that a lot more next on the Insiders. Happy thirty
(30:51):
fourth birthday to a future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner,
now in his first season re united with Dan Quinn
in Washington with the Commanders. Big birthday day around the NFL.
Happy twenty fourth birthday Chris Olave, a Saints wide receiver
also celebrating today, as is Titans quarterback Will Levis, who
(31:12):
turned twenty five. But lest you think the Levis is
off just partying and enjoying himself.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
No, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
He is in Cabo, so who knows what's going on tonight.
But during the daytime he's out there getting some work in.
DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley among the Titans players working out
with Levis in Mexico, young quarterback, getting those veterans to
show up for an event like this, Hey, there are
worse places to be at the end of June, but
still significant. He's putting the work in. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson
(31:42):
is working out with DK Metcalf. They've done this in
years past, and of course they were teammates for quite
a while there in Seattle. Two teams later, Russell Wilson
still got his guy DK on his side. Welcome back
to the insiders, Tom Pilicero and Brian or Baldy. It's
always interesting because every coach gives a variation of the
(32:04):
same speech to the team on the last day of
OTA's er minicamp, which is, hey, stay out of trouble,
come back in the best shape of your life. Everybody
does this a little bit differently. Some of them do
it more publicly on social media than others. But when
you see videos like this, how much does any work
you're getting in, especially those quarterbacks and wide receivers during
this time of year actually matters when it comes time
(32:25):
to play the games.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
Well, I think it matters because your focus is never
completely off the game, even though you're having a good
time in Cabo or Los Angeles wherever. Honestly, Tom, when
I played, my best friends were my teammates. We did
everything together. I mean, I know it's still like that
to a degree. It's changed a little bit. But you know,
when you see Will Levis down in Cabo, I mean, yes,
when the sun goes down, there could be some fun
(32:48):
down in Cabo if you had by everybody thot they's
throwing the football out there. They found a field somewhere
down here in Cabo, probably close to some golf course,
where they were all taking each other's money for a
little while this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
I think it's a good thing. There's got to be
a little bit of a balance.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
You got to have some fun, you got to get away,
but you still want to come to camp in shape.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
You don't want to miss time.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
You want to get there running, being ready to go
hit the field, going running as fast as you can
right now and being up to speed. And so I
think all these things, whether it's a sack summit, the
offensive line masterminds. I'm going to in Frisco in a
couple of weeks. The tight ends just had their camp
in Nashville. It's the chance to kind of bond. The
camaraderie is real, have some fun, learn some things, and
(33:30):
still keep your eye on the prize, which is training camp,
you know, starting in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Right now, you know who else is out there having fun?
The other people who are normally helping me host the show.
We've got Ian Rappaport and his wife Leah, who are
parts and on Baldi, correct me if I'm wrong. Here
is that where they are?
Speaker 4 (33:49):
That is the part on right there, right there in Athens.
It's probably one hundred degrees there today as well.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Yeah, well, real feeling bad about Ian taking a two
and a half week European vacation. Mike Garafalo is tending
at Jackson Kelsey's event for the Eagles Autism Foundation. Good
on Mike for volunteering there in the community. When Baldy's
not here giving us pass rusher breakdowns.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
He's doing stuff like this. Is this the Caribbean, Baldi?
Tell me where you are here?
Speaker 5 (34:17):
That is the Dominican Republic. That's Caraby and water. It
just looks different, it feels different than every other place
out there. So I was there last weekend, got some
other trip planned here before we get the training camps
to maybe you'll see another photo like that pretty soon.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
All right, then let's take a look at what I've
been doing here during the off seat.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Oh wait, this is it right here, I've been in
this seat. This is it this show.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
I hope me that my camera stays all long time,
so I get through another one bit.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Hey God, somebody's doing the show. Good job.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Tom seventy days till football, Baldi, seventy days still kick off,
less than a month until every team is on the field.
That's why we're here for all of you watching. Kvon
Timm going to be on the show tomorrow. Giants pass
Rusher Eli Manning is going to join from down at
the Manning Passing Academy. A whole lot more through the
(35:08):
course of a fun Friday show.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Baldy, you're the best.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Thank you for taking a little bit of a burden
off my shoulders to keep carrying this thing all week.
Now get back to the beach. Everybody else see you
here sevent eastern tomorrow,
Welcome inside with the Insiders. I am Tom Pelsero, happy
to be here with you.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
We got a fun hour ahead of football.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Brian Ballier is going to join the show, help us
break down the quarterback battles in New England.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It was a really interesting one in Denver. Well. It's
got so many big.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Stars, your fantasy stars with new uniforms, guys like Saquon
Barkley and Calvin Ridley. Should those guys be on your
fantasy team or should you stay away? Michael le f
Florio has the best insight in the business. He will
join this show as well. You got sixty nine days
left to get your fantasy draft done, because seventy days
for right now, we shall have football, a matchup of MVPs,
(00:48):
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens,
a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, and a
game that based upon the stage, it's the first one
of the out of the The gate is going to impact
a lot about how we're talking about the rest of
the twenty twenty four NFL season. For a lot more
on that game and other stuff, I'm sure too. Let's
(01:11):
welcome in our Brian Baldinger, as well as Omar Ruiz
and Bridget Condon.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Bridget, I'm going to start off.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
With you here because, of course we talk a lot
about the MVP Lamar Jackson, some of these shortfalls that
he and the Ravens have had during his time there
as the quarterback. This will be the first time that
he's got a certain guy lining up with him in
the backfield. What type of impact in your mind is
Derick Henry going to make, not just in Week one,
but throughout this twenty twenty four NFL.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Season, Tom Dereck Henry is going to make a big
impact on this Ravens offense. Now, the Ravens have both
the rushing leader in terms of quarterback and running back
on their team, and Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and
those two don't just have success in the regular season,
it's the playoffs too. In NFL history, those two ranked
top six when it comes to amount of rushing yards
per game in the playoffs. So how can this help you?
(02:00):
Talk back about that AFC title game Chiefs Ravens, which
is also that Week one matchup to open the season.
The Ravens lost that game. Of course, we all know
that they had just eighty one yards on the ground.
Harbaugh was asked about the lack of the ground game
after he said, that's just what the Chiefs defense was
giving us. So how can Derrick Henry impact that well?
His best asset against the Dynamics Chief's defense is his
(02:22):
ability to play keep away and grind out possessions. In
Henry's six games against the Chiefs, He's averaged one hundred
and thirteen yards on the ground. That's more than thirty
yards than what we saw in the AFC title game
from the Ravens and Mahomes. Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Get this.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
This is a good one from our research team, which
is the best of the best. They average approximately one
touchdown less when facing Derrick Henry.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Rigie.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
The thing that's interesting about this dynamic duo that you
speak of Lamar and Derek Henry is Dereck Henry. Yes,
he's played with Marcus Mariota and with Ryan Tannehill, but
nobody is Lamar. When Lamar puts the ball in your
bell and there's a mesh point there for every defense
to try to defend, who does it, Who's carrying the ball,
you don't.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Know till the final second your eyes have to be right.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
And now both these guys that you speak of and
all the stats that are out there, I mean, Dereck
Henry is going to flourish. Lamar Jackson is going to flourish.
The run game is going to flourish because you're really
not going to know what's happening. Then when Todd Munkin
mixed it in, all the misdirections and all the counters
and all of the disguises, this is going to be
a very difficult offense to defend. And so I'm with you,
(03:32):
Bridget this just should be a lot of fun. I
think he's the perfect fit. I think Dereck Henry knows
he's the perfect fitness offense, and you know, maybe this
is the fit that gets them over the hump that
they couldn't do last year.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Faulty. Let me ask the one follow up here because
I'm curious.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
From a schematic perspective, we've seen Derek Henry do a
lot of his damage through the years. Where it's the
quarterback under center, he's got a head of steam from Hawever,
many yards deep in the backfield with Lamar, there's a
significant amount of shotgun and pistol is Mark going to
be under center more? And if not, how do you
anticipate Derrick Henry is going to be able to run
out of the gun.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
I think he'll be fine. He'll be a point of
entry back. But you and we might see Lamar more
under center, you know, and let Derek Henry line up
eight yards and get that locomotive head of steam up.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
We might see a little bit more of that than
what we have seen. But I think Derek Henry is
just going.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
To enjoy getting some real runways here behind an offensive
line that should come together pretty quickly with what they
have right now. And then just the ultimate decoy and
what Lamar brings to a defense where they really don't
know if he's going to get the ball or not.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Omar, I want to bring you into the conversation here
on the other side of this matchup with the Chiefs
facing the Ravens in week one. I'm struck by this
because we were talking as late as Christmas basically about
a Chiefs team that didn't look the same as they
have in years past. They lose that home game on
the holiday to the Raiders. They folded nine and six.
They turn it around, they win the last they go
(05:00):
on the run, they go on the road in the playoffs,
and they win the whole thing. But how are the
Chiefs using the way that last season played out, because
it was not pretty for a good chunk of it,
especially on the offensive side, as they now turn their
attention to going for that three peat.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
It's interesting you bring that game up, Tom, because I
was speaking with Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Naggi earlier today
and he pointed to that game on Christmas against the Raiders,
and he says, if they don't lose that game, he's
not so sure that they win the Super Bowl. He
said that was a wake up call for that game
and the lesson that was learned there that they applied
to the playoffs that they feel they can apply to
(05:35):
the twenty four season as the intensity ratches it up
and the attention is brought to them on.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Their pursuit for a historic three peat.
Speaker 6 (05:43):
Is that they're allowed to play complimentary football. They admitted
to themselves, Okay, maybe we're not the forty points per
game Kansas City Chiefs of the past, but they could
still play not conservatively. They can still play aggressively, but
they could settle for field goals and be okay with that,
knowing special teams can bail them out, knowing that Steve
Spagnolo's defense can make a couple stops and stay in
(06:05):
the game for Patrick Mahomes to be the ultimate difference
maker at the end. That was the formula you saw
in the playoffs, and that was the formula that they'll
head into twenty four when times get tough, knowing they
can do that. Obviously, this is the third year in
a row that Patrick Mahomes is ingratiating new weapons. This year,
Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown and Neggy was tolding me
(06:25):
that Mahomes has become better and better at onboarding those players,
with the way he explains the nuances of their route running,
the intricacies of the timing. He said, it's been pressive
to watch Patrick Mahomes become a coach on the practice field,
in the meeting rooms, and of course in games. And
he said, Patrick Mahomes has become so good at this point,
(06:46):
so confident and comfortable with his abilities that even if
a player comes in and runs a route maybe differently
than what the Kansas City Chiefs normally ask of that route,
Mahomes can say hey, and this is part of welcoming
these new players of the team. I got you, I
can adjust to your route. We'll make that a part
of the offense. And that's part of the story as
(07:06):
the Chiefs welcome these new weapons into the team and
learn from that adversity they faced last year.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Baldi, you know, Omar, the marquis for this game is
that we all saw is Lamar and Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
I mean three MVPs between the two of them, and
rightfully so.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
But this also is the number one and number two
ranked defenses in the entire NFL. And when the street
the Chiefs horse struggling, like Matt Nagy explained, the defense
carried him. And I'm just it's amazing to me because
I always think it's more difficult to replace great coaches
than it is great players. And the fact that the
Chiefs haven't lost a coach and back to back winning
Super Bowl titles, the fact that Steve Spectola is still
(07:43):
there and not a head coach on place, taking his
mastermind of what he does defensively, the fact that he's
still in that roster calling defenses, Like I think this
Chiefs defense might actually even be better this coming season
than last year because of the depth that they have.
And I know losing l J. Steed and Willie gave
a big losses. But they've got great depth there and
they've got his mind. They've got one of the great
(08:05):
pressure minds in the NFL to really knock another or
the opposing offense soft stride.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
It's a credit.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
And somehow the whole staff is there, especially the whole
defensive staff. You know, the Ravens lose the AFC Championship game,
they lose Mike McDonald, they lose two other defensive coaches.
The chief didn't lose anybody there. Continuity, it's all there
right now. To go back in tryport.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Three p Mike McDonald's replacement, Zach Or, the former NFL
linebacker who just turned thirty two years old earlier this month,
first time play caller on the defensive side for a
Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations. Keep an eye on
that one as this thing moves forward. Okay, guys, don't move.
I want to turn tier to the Arizona Cardinals next,
(08:49):
because they've got some new parts as well, some new faces,
namely that guy who Cardinals fans hope you'll be seeing
a lot of Marvin Harrison Junior, the number four overall
draft pick, one of the most deductive players in all
of college football over the past couple of years. Cardinals
offensive coordinator Drew Petsing, in a very rare late June
(09:09):
press session, talked with reporters about Marvin Harrison.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
Today, how he's going to define that role. I think
that's going to continue through training camp. I certainly don't
and really for these guys, and we try to tell
that at every position, that's never done. You're always defining
and redefining your role in this league. You want a
bigger role, Earnie, you want lesser role. You're going to
show us, you know, and not that they want to
do that, but I think that's an important part of
being a good team is keeping that competition and keeping
(09:33):
that reality that no role.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Is setting stone.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Drew Betson is a fun guy to listen to because
he is going to shoot you straight. He's going to
be blunt, He's going to give you a lot of details.
Here a name to keep an eye on as a
head coaching candidate next year. Omar If this Cardinals offense
could do what a lot of people believe they can.
We had Trey mc bride on the other day and
he backed up with Judy Batista wrote that is yeah,
Kyler or the guy.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
They see right now, this can be an MVP candidate.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Where does this offense go with that healthy Kyler in
year two and Drew Petsing system plus that Marvin Errison
junior guy.
Speaker 6 (10:05):
Let's start with that relationship between Drew Petsing and Kyler
Murray obviously go a long way for the resurgent career
of Kyler Murray, and we'll see where Drew Petsing's career goes.
And if you remember a couple weeks ago, Tom Kyler
Murray said that Drew Petsing is a genius. So I
asked Petsing about that today and he said, it goes
both ways. The way Kyler understands the game, the way
Kyler can see the field certainly a tribute to Murray's work,
(10:28):
ethic and the way he has evolved as a quarterback.
And he said he wants that relationship to be to
the point where Murray is anticipating the play that Petsing
is going to call, or at least understand why he's
calling each and every play.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
And he said that relationship has.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Been fun to form over the last year and a half,
and it's gotten to the point where even in games,
when Petsing sees that Murray maybe didn't get to a
proper checkdown, he'll say, what were you thinking? And then
vice versa, when Petsing makes a bad call, Murray will
call him out and Petsing will say, hey, that's just
the first thing that came out of my mouth as
a play clock was winding down. As far these highlights,
Marvin Harrison Junior and the way he's going to fit
(11:04):
into the offense, so many different weapons. Now for the Cardinals,
we talked about Trey McBride and everybody anticipating him having
a breakout year. James Connor is coming off a career year.
We heard Michael Wilson say he's taking calls from Kyler
Murray in the middle of the night, talking about practicing
on the weekends. All those mouths to feed, and Petsing said,
it's not going to be an issue. He says it
(11:25):
points to the culture that Jonathan Gannon has built there
the last year and a half, the type of players
that Monty austen Ford has come into and Tom of course,
if that becomes an issue, how many mouths they have
to feel? That's a good problem to have for the
Arizona Cardinals offense.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
And they will get a test right out of the
gate Cardinals at Bills in Week one. Omar, don't move.
You're gonna be back with the shortly. So are Bridget
and Baldy as well. The Dolphins come out of the
gate against the Jaguars that opener in Miami. Should you
have that guy on your.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Face, Jim?
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Should you have that guy? A lot of backs, a
lot of mouse to feed, as Omar put it in
that Dolphins backfield, which one should be on your fantasy team?
Mike lef Florio joined us to break down that and
a lot more. Next on The Insiders.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Welcome back to the Insiders. I am Bridgick Condon, Tom
tel Sero having a little trouble with his camera, but
he'll be back shortly. Don't you worry. For now we
have Michael f Florio. Michael, I want to talk to
you about some of these fantasy players, especially coming into
this season. Who are some guys that have been drafted
maybe too low in the past.
Speaker 8 (12:40):
Yeah, and right now we're using best ball ADP, which
is where you draft, don't set your lineup. Your highest
scores get in, so that factors into things. But regardless,
Isaiah Picheco is being drafted too low right now.
Speaker 9 (12:52):
He averaged over.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
Nineteen Fantasy points per game in games where he played
at least sixty percent of the snaps last year. His
target rate more than doubled what it was the year prior,
and he got more and more involved in the passing
game as the season went on. And as of right now,
McKinnon still isn't there. He was relied upon heavily down
the stretch. He is my running back eight right now.
(13:14):
My only concern is sometime the Chiefs don't like to
give their back backs the full workload early on. I
also think Deontay Johnson is going too low. He is
still one of the best separators in the NFL. Last
year he had the third highest rate of uncatchable targets.
Speaker 9 (13:30):
That's on the quarterback, not on him.
Speaker 8 (13:32):
But I expect Bryce Young to take a next step
under Dave Canalis, who kind of let the Gino and
Baker resurgent years.
Speaker 9 (13:38):
And the Panthers are still gonna have to throw a bunch.
Remember Adam Fielin had a stretch as a wide receiver. One.
Speaker 8 (13:43):
I think Deontay will put up good numbers all year,
and then Chris Godwins singing in that division.
Speaker 9 (13:49):
He's coming off of a down year, but I think
he'll bounce back. Third highest rate of uncatchable targets on
downfield throws. Last year he was playing out wide. Now
we're gonna hear him. We're seeing going to see him
more in slot this year.
Speaker 8 (14:01):
And he had just six fewer targets than Mike Evans
last season. And he's going forty picks later.
Speaker 9 (14:06):
So sign me up for Chris Godwin.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
All right, and Michael. Yesterday, we talked to Austin Eckler
on the show, and one of the things he wants
for this year is to be that fantasy player that
we all remember he was a couple of years past.
Is he one of those guys drafted too high? Who
are these players that you think are maybe going too high?
Speaker 9 (14:22):
No, he's not.
Speaker 8 (14:22):
I've been a supporter of Austin Eckler in fantasy since.
Speaker 9 (14:25):
Before it was cool. I'm not jumping off for it now.
But DeVante Adams, I do think might be going just
a little too high. He started last.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
Season, his metrics declined a bit, and at thirty two
years old coming into this season, I think that is
something to be concerned about. And the quarterback play is
still going to be an issue on a team that
will rely on the ground game and their defense. So
maybe he could repeat what he did last year and
be a low end Rode receiver one, but that's where
you're drafting him at right now, and you're not getting
(14:55):
any discount for the risk, so.
Speaker 9 (14:57):
I will let other people take him. Devon is a
player who I love his talent.
Speaker 8 (15:03):
He was off the charts efficient last year and we
know how much upside he brings. But he's the seventh
running back being drafted right now, so you were paying
for the entire ceiling without taking much of the risk
into account. Where heem Moster is still there, got a
new deal, I don't think he fully goes away only
two games last year with over fifteen carries per eight
chan I even ranked at RB thirteen, So seven is
(15:25):
just a little too rich for my blood. And then
Jordan Addison averaged just ten point five points per game
without Kirk Cousins last year, and regardless of who starts
I think it is a downgrade at quarterback from Kirk Cousins.
He had just a fifteen percent target share when Justin
Jefferson was out there, and thirteen of his seventeen games
he failed to reach seventy yards. He was elevated by
(15:47):
ten receiving touchdowns, but you cannot rely on that. So
I'll let someone else take him, and I'll go get
someone a little bit more upside.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
How many days till we're drafted, Michael.
Speaker 9 (15:57):
I've been drafting since March.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Okay, get ready training camp less than a month away.
Everybody really tuned into who the best fantasy players will
be this season. Thank you so much, as always for
the great inside. Coming up after the break, do we
have a quarterback competition? Which teams have the biggest quarterback competition?
We're going to talk about bo Nix. We're also going
to talk about Patriots. Drake may stay with us here
(16:20):
on the Insider.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Six quarterbacks picked in the first twelve selections of the
NFL draft back in eight for all those six first
round selections, tying for the most in the common draft era.
But which one of those quarterbacks is going to be
fighting for a starting job.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
As we get into training camps.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Manchers on that we bring back our omaruiz Bridge at
Condon as well as Brian Baldinger. Guys, there's a situation
in right now New England where Drake May. The Patriots
made it binally clear they're not going to put him
on the field before he's ready. They brought in Jacoby
Brissette Bridget to be that veteran presence. What is it
going to take for Drake May to potentially get on
(17:10):
the field and does he have that opportunity.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
There's definitely that opportunity. But Tom, when you look at this,
there's no reason for the Patriots to rush Drake May.
Speaker 9 (17:18):
Right.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Alex van Pelt, now the offensive coordinator for the Patriots,
he was with Jacoby Brissett back in twenty twenty two
when Brissett was the starting quarterback for the Browns and
that season he had his best completion percentage and best
passer rating of any season in his career. So, look,
you have a guy in Jacoby Brissett that can help
this team. There is no need to rush Drake May.
(17:40):
And talking with people around the Patriots organization, they kind
of feel the same that there's nothing that Drake May
has shown so far during camp that says we absolutely
have to have this guy out week one. Why put
the pressure on him, let him develop, let him sit
and learn behind Jacoby Brissett. That is a very capable quarterback.
And if you look at teams who maybe rush to quarterback,
(18:01):
you can think about Jared Goff in the Rams, who
maybe he started a little too early, he hit a
really tough season. Also, Mitch Trubisky with the Bears his
first season or another UNC quarterback was tough in Chicago.
Then look out a guy like Patrick Mahomes. Right, not
comparing the two, but just remember Patrick Mahomes in his
first season sat behind Alex Smith and then he had
(18:21):
the opportunity to learn and grow and absolutely flourish in
his second season. And now he's a quarterback that is
at the top of the top of the NFL. Why
not just let Drake May sit back, wait a little bit,
get comfortable before you know, enduring all that pressure as
a week one starter.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
One of the reasons bridget that rookie quarterbacks do struggle
that get thrown in the right way is the team
around him is very good. Yeah, and the Patriots around
the quarterback position is very good. You mentioned Alex Van
Pelt and Jacoby Brissett. In twenty twenty two in Cleveland,
the Browns had one of the best offensive lines in
all football. You could always hand the ball off to
Nick Chubb in twenty twenty two. The Patriots aren't built that.
(19:00):
They're not there yet. I don't know who they're left
tackles yet. I don't know if the Patriots know who
their left tackle is protect the blindside the quarterback. And
I'm not saying put Jacobe Burssette out there just to
get beat up and hit, but at least he understands
the need and how important is get the ball out
of his hands and not hold it and not take
those hits. And so I think Drake is in a
(19:21):
position right here where if he sits, and the more
he sits, I think the more he's going to benefit
long term.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Omar.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
One of the worst kept secrets in the pre draft
process was that bone Knicks was in the mix the
potentially be the Broncos quarterback. Not a lot of people
necessarily believed it was going to happen at number twelve.
Once those other five quarterbacks went, Denver did not waste
any time tell me about the development of Bone Knicks
under a guy in Champayton who does have a good
track record of developing quarterbacks. In an interesting room right
(19:49):
now too, obviously with Zach Wilson the newest member of
that mix, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
Jared Sidham also in the mix, and Sean Payton not
tipping his hand as far as how they'll divvy up
reps when training camp begin or where the pecking order
is right now for that quarterback competition.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
But as far Bo.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
Nicks, you said, it no secret that seemingly he was
the perfect fit for Sean Payton's offense, and early returns
on Knick's development has been overwhelmingly positive. And everything we
talked about from his days at the University of Oregon
and the record sixty one college starts that he had
between the Oregon Ducks and the Auburn Tigers, as well
as the five or so different systems that he played
(20:27):
with in college, have certainly lessened his learning clerve. Obviously,
Sean Payton's offense has sophisticated as it gets in the NFL,
but his experience in those different systems Nicks had in college,
he's seen a little bit of everything that the Sean
Payton offense has to offer, but obviously called different things,
and he's still a rookie, still has to learn and
lessen with so many different things going on around him as.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
A rookie quarterback.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
But the way he's ingratiated himself into the locker room,
the way he's ingratiated himself into that quarterback room, the
way Joe Lombardi says that Nicks rarely makes the same
mistake twice, and you could feel that experience on the field.
Nothing seems to be too big for bo Nick's eve,
but nothing but please Baldy with so far his early
development there.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
I've heard the same things, Omar, and that's good to hear.
I mean, I do think sixty one starts matters, and
experience matters, and playing in different systems and on different
teams and in different leagues, all that stuff kind of
builds that MAXI that you need inside you to run
a Sean Payton offense. I don't think Sean's giving him
the job. I think there's a competition. I think Sean
(21:31):
understands that he's got to show his team because you
now the leader of the team, whoever the quarterback is
that he has earned that right to be the starter.
It hasn't been given to him, and so I think
that's good. I think the offense line has some questions.
The center position I think is more up for grabs,
and I think the quarterback position is I'm anxious to
see who wins that. I think the running back competition
(21:54):
is going to be a really good battle, and so
while we're going to focus on the quarterback, and probably
rightfully so, I think there's some other really interesting battles
in Denver that might help whatever quarterback wins that battle
have some success early on.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
One of the big frustrations for Sean Payton, and you
saw a bubble over on the sidelines at times last year,
was Russell Wilson simply not executing the plays the way
Sean Payton had drawn them up, or the way he
wanted him executed. I've had to coaches and scouts in
the pre draft process about why Bonix was a good
fit for Denver. A big part of it was he
is a coaches kid. He will do exactly what Sean
(22:30):
Payton is asking him to do. Bridget Omar, thank you
very much. Look forward to talking to you again soon.
Baldy don't move. You and I have a lot of
business coming up. This is Cam Jordan at last year's
Sex Summit. Who are some of the potential rising stars
at this year's event? Baldy breaks it down with me
next on the inside. Did you use some of that
(22:58):
autumn wind right about now in Vegas? Where at this
moment it's summer and it's hot as hell for the
sacks of it that will be kicking off in Vegas
later on this week, some of the top pass rushers
from around the NFL getting together as they have in
recent years. You know who else will be there, Our
guy Brian Baldinger, who right now is with me, Tom
(23:20):
Pelisero right here on the insiders, Balding, this is a
phenomenal event that has kind of inspired some of the
other events too that we've seen taking place for other
position groups. You get an up close look at all
these guys. Tell me some of the guys that you're
excited to see out there in Vegas.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
Well, I'm going to see Warren Stapp and John Randall
and Von Miller and Max Crosby and Cam Jordan. That's good,
not that, but there's some young guys that are going
to be there. I mean, you look at James Houston,
who was drafted by Detroit two years ago. He's from
Fort Lauderdale, ended up graduating from Jackson State. I was
there with Dion, But I call this the flying will lend,
(23:58):
hesitation and dip like he's got a creativity to them
and how he gets to the quarterback. Remember back in
twenty twenty two, he had eight sacks in seven games.
I mean he was ripping the league apart and beaten
siled left tackles like Cam Robinson here with a variety
of moves. Now he got hurt in the second week
last year, but he's going.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
To be there.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
He's going to be learning from Vonn and Max and
and Cam Jordan's some of these guys about techniques and
how to set your guy up. And then there's Klijah
Cansy and so you know, Calijah Kancy is a guy
that was the first round pick last year obviously of Tampa.
But I thought after tearing his caf in preseason, he
came on and really came on where he has an
(24:38):
array of moves, he's got a plan, he's got a
way to get there. He has absurd quickness and abilities
to defeat blocks, and I think this thing is only
especially with Sap and with Randall. There guys that play
his position. I think he's going to benefit a lot
from being around those guys. Hit sacks in both postseason
games a year ago. And then finally, I think the
(24:59):
guy that I think I'm interested in seeing is the
Buffalo Bills fifth round pick Javon Solomon from Troy. I mean,
he did have the sixteen sacks last year. He had
over thirty in his career Troy. But you know, he's
an undersized guy. He's about six to one, about two fifty,
but man, he comes off the edge. He comes off
the edge where I mean, he brings a little something
(25:22):
to the party, if you know what I mean. And
I just think this is a guy that nobody's paying
attention to, nobody's talking about, but he's gonna be up
there and Buffalo Vaughn's got almost the entire defensive line there,
aj Panessa at Oliver, They're all coming, all these rookies
are coming up there.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
I got to watch, though.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
I'm interested in just seeing his practice, habits, his quickness
and all those things.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Is this Javon Solomon from Troy.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
There's been a few pass rushers over the years from
those smaller schools have ended up having a big impact
in the NFL. John Solomon definitely a name to watch.
Baldy stick around. We're gonna be talking with you a
more a little bit later coming up after this though,
let's talk a little bit of fantasy football. Our guy
Michael F. Florio is back Stefan Diggs one of many
(26:09):
top names, big names that are on new teams in
twenty twenty four. But should they be on your fantasy team?
Florio's got answers after this on The Insiders, CG. Stroud
Stefan Diggs still building that chemistry even when they're in
(26:30):
Paris for fashion week. This is Strouded Diggs getting some
work in on whatever patch of grass they can find
right there, and that is some patchy grass on the
patcho grass.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
But hey, you take the reps where you can get them.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Less than a month from now they will be out
there on the field together in training camp. Welcome back
to the Insiders. I am Tom Pellicero, join now this
time for real by Michael F. Florio, our fantasy expert
on the show. Florio, I'm really interested in this one
with Stefan Diggs because for whatever issues may have been
surrounding the Bills offense, multiple different play callers. You could
(27:07):
go into a season knowing for certain he's gonna have
one hundred and fifty one hundred and sixty targets going
to Houston, but they've got different mix of weapons. How
do you feel about Stefan diggs stock for twenty twenty
four in fans?
Speaker 8 (27:20):
I think it certainly has to be viewed as being
lower than it has been with the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 9 (27:25):
You talk about his targets.
Speaker 8 (27:26):
He averaged one hundred and sixty targets per year in Buffalo.
Speaker 9 (27:30):
I just don't see any way he gets to that number.
Speaker 8 (27:33):
With Nico Collins and Tank Dell and then Dalton Schultz,
Joe Mixon and those other secondary options there. This could
be potentially viewed as a quarterback downgrade. And last year,
in the second half of the season, Diggs was a
wide receiver for for fantasy purposes. I'm worrying if that
was the start of early signs of decline and the
(27:53):
deep playball was what was really missing from his game.
If he loses that, then he just becomes kind of
a safe moor play in fantasy. I think it costs
right now. I'll take Nico Collins over him.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Let's talk some other big names in new places here.
Saquon Barkley goes to Philadelphia. We all know what Saquon
can do when he's healthy. He also now has new
offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who has a reputation for wanting
to throw the football a lot. Does Saquon stock rise
or fall with the move to Philly?
Speaker 8 (28:24):
I think his value goes up in Philly because this
is the best offense he's ever played in, with the
best quarterback play, best pass catchers, best downfield attack. All
of those things should help open up space near the
line of scrimmage and help create running lanes for Saquon Barkley,
who I think will remain a three down back and
hurts his legs himself. His running ability could help open
(28:47):
up some paths for Saquon. Imagine those two running the
option or something like that, and I know.
Speaker 9 (28:51):
Everyone's going to be like, but the tush push. He
could steal some touchdowns away, sure, but the Eagles are
going to score way more.
Speaker 8 (28:58):
Polling send way more touchdowns the Giants did a year ago,
so I think because of all that this is a
good thing for Sakuon and his fantasy value.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
And then how about Calvin Ridley, one of the big
surprises in free agency. A lot of people believe he's
going back to Jacksonville. All of a sudden he signs
with the Tennessee Titans. Does his stock rise or fall
after his comeback season in Jacksonville?
Speaker 9 (29:20):
I think it kind of stays the same.
Speaker 8 (29:23):
Like last year, he was a boom er bust wide
receiver two for fantasy purposes, And while I have him
ranked a little bit lower than now than I did
a year ago, I think he's his value remains pretty similar.
Last year, Will Levis led the NFL in deep pass
his hero throws and first read throws.
Speaker 9 (29:40):
Ridley should account for.
Speaker 8 (29:41):
Most of those this year, and we're already hearing that
he could play the Jamar Chase role in Brian Callahan's offense.
So I think there'll be a lot of volume and
a lot of deep shots going his way, just with.
Speaker 9 (29:51):
The quarterback play.
Speaker 8 (29:53):
It's probably going to be up and down week to week,
but there will be some huge games mixed in and
then some dead games as well.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
So to recap from Florio Draft, Saquon, Maybe draft Ridley
and draft Nico Collins. Three nuggets to keep in your
back pocket with sixty nine days left to get those
fantasy drafts in Florio, You're the man. Thank you as
always for being here. We are less than a month
away from training camp, which means well players and ex
(30:21):
players have a little time on their hands. What are
the Eagles up to those jello shots? If so, can
I have one? At about nine minutes? We'll talk about
that a lot more next on the Insiders. Happy thirty
(30:51):
fourth birthday to a future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner,
now in his first season re united with Dan Quinn
in Washington with the Commanders. Big birthday day around the NFL.
Happy twenty fourth birthday Chris Olave, a Saints wide receiver
also celebrating today, as is Titans quarterback Will Levis, who
(31:12):
turned twenty five. But lest you think the Levis is
off just partying and enjoying himself.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
No, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
He is in Cabo, so who knows what's going on tonight.
But during the daytime he's out there getting some work in.
DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley among the Titans players working out
with Levis in Mexico, young quarterback, getting those veterans to
show up for an event like this, Hey, there are
worse places to be at the end of June, but
still significant. He's putting the work in. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson
(31:42):
is working out with DK Metcalf. They've done this in
years past, and of course they were teammates for quite
a while there in Seattle. Two teams later, Russell Wilson
still got his guy DK on his side. Welcome back
to the insiders, Tom Pilicero and Brian or Baldy. It's
always interesting because every coach gives a variation of the
(32:04):
same speech to the team on the last day of
OTA's er minicamp, which is, hey, stay out of trouble,
come back in the best shape of your life. Everybody
does this a little bit differently. Some of them do
it more publicly on social media than others. But when
you see videos like this, how much does any work
you're getting in, especially those quarterbacks and wide receivers during
this time of year actually matters when it comes time
(32:25):
to play the games.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
Well, I think it matters because your focus is never
completely off the game, even though you're having a good
time in Cabo or Los Angeles wherever. Honestly, Tom, when
I played, my best friends were my teammates. We did
everything together. I mean, I know it's still like that
to a degree. It's changed a little bit. But you know,
when you see Will Levis down in Cabo, I mean, yes,
when the sun goes down, there could be some fun
(32:48):
down in Cabo if you had by everybody thot they's
throwing the football out there. They found a field somewhere
down here in Cabo, probably close to some golf course,
where they were all taking each other's money for a
little while this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
I think it's a good thing. There's got to be
a little bit of a balance.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
You got to have some fun, you got to get away,
but you still want to come to camp in shape.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
You don't want to miss time.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
You want to get there running, being ready to go
hit the field, going running as fast as you can
right now and being up to speed. And so I
think all these things, whether it's a sack summit, the
offensive line masterminds. I'm going to in Frisco in a
couple of weeks. The tight ends just had their camp
in Nashville. It's the chance to kind of bond. The
camaraderie is real, have some fun, learn some things, and
(33:30):
still keep your eye on the prize, which is training camp,
you know, starting in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Right now, you know who else is out there having fun?
The other people who are normally helping me host the show.
We've got Ian Rappaport and his wife Leah, who are
parts and on Baldi, correct me if I'm wrong. Here
is that where they are?
Speaker 4 (33:49):
That is the part on right there, right there in Athens.
It's probably one hundred degrees there today as well.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Yeah, well, real feeling bad about Ian taking a two
and a half week European vacation. Mike Garafalo is tending
at Jackson Kelsey's event for the Eagles Autism Foundation. Good
on Mike for volunteering there in the community. When Baldy's
not here giving us pass rusher breakdowns.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
He's doing stuff like this. Is this the Caribbean, Baldi?
Tell me where you are here?
Speaker 5 (34:17):
That is the Dominican Republic. That's Caraby and water. It
just looks different, it feels different than every other place
out there. So I was there last weekend, got some
other trip planned here before we get the training camps
to maybe you'll see another photo like that pretty soon.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
All right, then let's take a look at what I've
been doing here during the off seat.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Oh wait, this is it right here, I've been in
this seat. This is it this show.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
I hope me that my camera stays all long time,
so I get through another one bit.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Hey God, somebody's doing the show. Good job.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Tom seventy days till football, Baldi, seventy days still kick off,
less than a month until every team is on the field.
That's why we're here for all of you watching. Kvon
Timm going to be on the show tomorrow. Giants pass
Rusher Eli Manning is going to join from down at
the Manning Passing Academy. A whole lot more through the
(35:08):
course of a fun Friday show.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Baldy, you're the best.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Thank you for taking a little bit of a burden
off my shoulders to keep carrying this thing all week.
Now get back to the beach. Everybody else see you
here sevent eastern tomorrow,
Hosts And Creators
Gregg Rosenthal
Rachel Bonnetta
Cynthia Frelund
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.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.