January 16, 2025 • 45 mins
In this episode of Move the Sticks, Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks break down the biggest takeaways from the eight teams still vying for a Super Bowl title. The duo also debates whether any of the top five quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft have what it takes to compete with the elite QBs leading playoff teams this season. Plus, they preview the divisional round matchups and share their thoughts on the latest NFL coaching requests and hires.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
What's up, everybody? Walcome to move the sticks? DJ?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Buck with you?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Buck? What's going on? Man? How you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Not too much? DJ?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Just really excited this time of year because it's so unusual.
I have college football still going. Normally we're talking about
all star games, but not a college football game. So
to have the Natty coming up on top of a
great weekend of football.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
When you talk about the Division A round, doesn't get
much better than this.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Yeah, no, it's uh, it's definitely world's converging at this
point in time, like trying to really get cranking on
the college kids. Now that that that bear jumped on
my back, Buck, I don't know what happened. I turned
it out all over my back, So I got working
on that stuff. Then, you know, with enjoying the playoffs
both you know, the final game coming up on the
(00:49):
college side, as well as what's going on in the NFL.
There's a there's a lot of great football stuff going on.
I want to take today's episode and we'll we'll get
to some Newsy stuff and some coaching news and uh
potential hires. What the information we have as we're recording.
We'll get to that in a little bit. But I
want to talk about these eight teams that are remaining
in the playoffs. And I got this idea actually from
(01:11):
Brock Hueer the other day, and he asked this question
and that I took some time to think about it
because I was like, Okay, let me give some thought
to this. But he was he was wondering, what lesson
can you take from the eight teams that are left,
be it on the field, personnel, department, team building, like
any less is there anything you can learn from them
that you could take with you if you know, we're
(01:32):
a general manager of a team. So I'm gonna I'm
gonna rip through and we'll go one by one. I'll
give you mine, and then just what comes to mind
for you, like if there's anything different, And let's start
with this. Let's start with the first thing for all eight.
We're not even going to talk about quarterbacks, because seven
of these eight teams have quarterbacks who were first round picks.
(01:52):
Like a talented quarterback in the eighth is Jalen Hurts,
who you know has a lot of ability, was a
second round So we're going to assume to get into
the party, you got to have one of those. So
and having a great quarterback doesn't ensure you make it
to the final eight, but it's hard to get into
the final eight if you don't have a great quarterback.
That's I think that's a good premise to start from.
You agree on that front, Yeah, I'm definitely with you,
and that like that is definitely a great room.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
You got to have the franchise quarterback, no matter how
you get it, you have to have one to give
you separate chance because as we're seeing, if you don't
have a quarterback, you don't have a chance in the tournament.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
And on that point, and we'll get to the Philadelphia
in a minute, but the one team who does not
have a first round quarterback, I think with you, we
would say that they have the most talented roster supporting
that quarterback. So that's just an interesting nugget there. But
let's start with Detroit. And if I was going to
think of a word with Detroit, I wrote down alignment.
(02:46):
I don't know if there's a better organizational alignment in
the NFL than what Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell from
the Jump Bud Buck They were on. They knew what
they wanted and what they wanted that team to look like,
and they went out and got it done.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
So it's kind of like one of the things that
I believe when we talk about building a championship team
is not discussed enough off from top to bottom. Everyone
has to be aligned in terms of their vision for
how the team is going to operate, what the team
should look like, and all of those things. It doesn't
mean that we don't have different opinions on maybe players,
(03:23):
but there is a universal belief in the type of team,
the type of player from a character football character trade
standpoint that we must have on our team to be
able to succeed what you've seen in Detroit. And look,
I'll give the owners a lot of credit for the
patients they exhibited because they could have pun it on
this project after a year and a half when it
(03:43):
didn't get off to a fast start, but they stayed
true to who.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
They were and they've been rewarded.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
On the other side, Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes, they
get it because the general manager supplies to head coach
with the type of players that fit how the coach
wants to They're in lockstep with the football character part
of the situation in terms of the greediness to competitives,
to toughness, all of those things.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It works. And DJ I'll say this particularly.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
I don't know if you've been listening to some of
the conversations that's been coming out from the losing teams,
teams that didn't make it to the playoffs, but there's
been a lot of conversation about a lack of accountability.
We need this, and we don't have guys that care
and all this other stuff, And to me, it speaks
to a bigger problem that exists in the NFL. If
(04:33):
you don't have everybody aligned, if your culture and your
environment is right, you have no chance. And I think
everyone is now pointing to the Lions as the city
on the heel when it comes to creating culture and
buy in making sure you get the right players that
fit the image of the organization.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Yeah, I was just looking at the way that they've
done things and not only is it just kind of
you having that alignment and that fit, but it reminded me.
And this is a little bit of a left turn
here of as we go into draft season. If you're
a fan, right and you have a team that you want,
you know, we need some players. Think about think less
(05:14):
about how people rank these guys, like you're gonna see
a mill everybody's got rankings and mock drafts and you're
gonna look at that. No, No, don't pay attention to the
number of where they're ranked. Pay attention to what's read. Like,
pay attention to what you read in terms of the
description of the player, because fit has never been more important.
And if you know, like we talk about alignment, and
(05:35):
you kind of know what you're looking for, then you
might say, Okay, this guy is the fourth ranked whatever.
But you know what, man, he reads the way he reads.
That's the kind of player that we that we not
like like, that's our type of guy. And that's why
I honestly think our side of things is so much
harder than working for a team when you're when I'm
trying to stack these guys. You got to stack these guys.
(05:57):
We don't. We're not stacking for a scheme or a
or a per personality or a fit. Now that's why
to me, I just try this out, trust me, just
try it out for one year. Just read it, just
read the descriptions. And that'll inform you on whether or
not he's a good player for your team.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
One percent, And you're right.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
We don't have the ability to kind of do the
deep dive when it comes to the character, whether there's
more character or football character to know if a guy's
a perfect fit in certain situations. We may be trying
to play matchmaker with mock drafts in those things. But
what we can do is we can assess the talent.
We can see how they play, and we can reject
how they may play in the ideal system for what
(06:36):
their talents show. But it's a very difficult thing and
for organizations that's why it's really clear before you even
start the rebuild process. You have to talk through what
you want to be. You know, when you think about
the teams that have been successful for a while, teams
that are always competitive may not win every year, but
they're always in the hunt. There seems to be a
(06:57):
clear compass for how they want to opt because they
know who they are and they know which players fit
what they want to do.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
No doubt. And look, we spend a litle extra time
on Detroit. We don't have to go as in depth
on this one because some of this conversation we've had
before on Washington. Washington. Obviously, the home run, the coach,
all that stuff knocked that out of the park, but
also we talked about the value of the vets. That's
kind of what I wrote down on there is there's
having guys who've been on championship level teams and then
been big in championship moments. Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, those
(07:27):
types of players, even Andrew Wiley's been on a super
Bowl team. I think there's that's a great reminder from
them that there's value in vets with championship experience.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, I would, I would even go a step furtherest.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Not only value in vets, but when you're the head coach,
you need to bring some people with you. And it's
very very common whenever you have a new head coaching
hire that he will reach back in this past and
pull some guys that he knows to help him create
the culture that he wants. In Washington. He not only
brought people that he knows that buy into the he
(08:00):
wants to do things, but they also have championship experience
in pedigree. And I don't care what anyone says, man
that experience brings a level of expertise. I don't think
it's a coincidence that they played the way that they
played last weekend with Bobby Wagner installs as to Mike Linebacker.
Because they've done it time and time again, it's easier
to tell the rest of the team where the young guys,
(08:22):
here's what's about to happen when we get to the postseason.
The game becomes a little fast, a little more physical,
and these things. Here's how we need to prepare to
be able to get it done. To me, that is
very valuable and the commanders saw the value in that
as they were trying to turn around the program.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
And I think especially around a young quarterback buck I
mean just having all those different veteran pieces. Zach Hurtz
has caught a game winner in a Super Bowl. Oh yeah,
I mean that's a it's anyways, I think there's value there.
Philly and we talked about how deep in talented their
roster is. I just wrote down, like, have you can
you think of a team that has kept their priorities
(08:58):
in perspective more than Philly, Like it has been a
line of scrimmage add talent every year for twenty years buck,
that's all I mean. It's like they've never veered. Like
I just put down that they have always had the
proper priorities, is what I put to Philly.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yeah, keep the main thing, the main thing, and the
main thing in Philly has been dominating the line of scrimmage.
Doesn't matter what you have around you on the perimeter.
If we can dominate the line of scrimmage, it always
gives us a chance to win. And the Philadelphia Egos
have embraced that more than maybe anybody else in the
National Football League by constantly pumping resources into the offensive
and defensive lines. People will talk about, well, yeah, you
(09:35):
know they got Devonte Smith in the first round. Yeah,
but that's after the rest of the house had been built.
The foundation was right, like you had all of the
skeleton in place, and so now you can go out
and do that. But if we go back and look
right after that, they went right back and got a
line of scrimmage player because that's what they do. They
believe in that, and it's been very successful for them.
(09:56):
And I think the funny thing is when you hear
so many people talk about, oh, to be a line
of scrimmers, team.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah, but your actions don't.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
They don't match your words. Words yep.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So if you're going to be a team that is
about the line of scrimmage, then everything that you do
is about the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And that's what it feels the Eagles have done.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Yep. All right, this is an interesting one for the Rams.
I love this as a almost like a slogan. I
wrote down details and dogs like they are as detailed
as it gets. Like just think about how they run
routes and how they how they how crisp they are
(10:33):
in their details. I think they're detailed in terms of
their evaluation with less sneed they have. They have traits
that they they covet and they want to go get.
And then just look at their defensive front with all
the dudes that they've added. Those are dogs. Like if
you were gonna if you watched Jared Verse last year,
you knew one thing he will he will freaking jack
(10:54):
you at the line of scrimmage. Like that is that
is a animal, and that's that's kind of what they've cultva.
This teammate, Jared Festu is the same way Kobe Turner,
same way. Like those guys play you know what till
a wall at all times, and.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
So that's the hardest thing to find, like because everyone
talks about like being competitive and that, oh I love
the game and this, but it's another way. It's another
thing to find people that truly love it right and
the ones who truly love it because we've already heard
the stories about the Rams and how early their young
guys are getting in and how they're really committed to
the process and how they found that in Puka Nakua
(11:30):
and how they also foster that by in a way
pairing their young guys with vets that exhibit the right
traits and characteristics. So it kind of permeates throughout the team.
This is a team that is very detailed on how
they do it. All you have to do is look
at the game on Monday night and how they played
on defense man the tension to detail and how they
all were on the same page. But the competitive energy
(11:53):
and edge that they had that matters. And Sean McVay,
because they're always talking about teams being reflection of the coach.
When you said details and dog, when I watch him
and watch him coach, we all can hear his attention
to detail. But when you see his feisting this on
the sideline. He is as competitive as they come. And
(12:14):
having been around teams that have struggled and of not
being able to turn it around, to see them start
at one in four and turn it around and do
it in back to back years. Man, that reveals the
character of the coach that even when it's bad, I'll
find a way to fix it.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
We'll get it fixed.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
And I remember when we talked to less need or
I don't remember if we had him on if I
talked him on the side, but we had mentioned it
before as we talked about, gosh, you get these offensive guys,
these receivers, it's up and running, you know, like Cooper
Cup and and all the different guys that they've had
in there that have just they pop right in and
then and then off they go.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
And and he was.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Like, well, yeah, we get smart football players on the
offensive side of the ball. They're Pooka Nakula, very sharp, smart,
Kiren Will as a running back. Listen to him, pop,
he's freaking smartest crud, you know what I mean? Like,
they have got a bunch of smart football players on offense.
And I'm not saying they're not as smart on defense.
But I'm saying attitude may be a little more at
(13:13):
the forefront on defense, and then aptitude may be a
little bit more on offense.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
That's a really good observation when we talk about intelligent
those things. And I've kind of told you about this
when I was with the Carolina Pans and we went
to Super Bowl thirty eight. When we looked at the
final four, they were the most Those four teams had
the most college graduates on the team. And it doesn't matter,
but it kind of speaks to base level of intelligence,
goal setting, being able to start something and finish something.
(13:41):
And so if you have a smart team comp as
of smart players, it just kind of raises the ceiling
for the team. And I think the Rams have figured
that part out. They know exactly what they are and
so we can talk about alignment, but yeah, less need
and Sean mcvayor line, but man, the details and the
dog definitely shows up whenever this team plays.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
All right, let's get to the other conference at AFC
Kansas City Buck that we've talked about. This secret weapon
for them, I wrote down it's continuity. I mean, you've
had Patrick Mahomes who's been in one offensive system his
entire career. You've got Steve Spagnolo, who the league's not
just hasn't been willing to give another shot as a
head coach, so he just keeps coming back year over year.
(14:22):
You've got head coach quarterback both you know and offense
defensive schemes that don't change.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
No, so that you grow in it, well, you don't change.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
You're comfortable, you're able to grow in the system, and
growing in the system, you can start to layer and
add to it. Also, when you have young guys that
jump in there, there's comfort in knowing that every year
I know exactly what I'm doing, so I can get
better and better and I can spend less of my
time worrying about scheme and more of my time worrying
(14:51):
about skill development in those And it's not a coincidence
that when we talk about the draft and DEVELOPM model
that they've used, it's work because they do keep things
consistent and it does allow them to spend a lot
of the off season and a lot of the time
working on the individual skills.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yep, no doubt. With Houston, I really thought about them
because I was trying to figure out what I would
you know what I would go with there, and I
wrote aggressive and aggressive organizationally when you look at what
they did, Look, you trade Deshaun Watson. That's an aggressive move.
You know, you know you got a young Pro Bowl quarterback,
(15:27):
they trade him. That's an aggressive move. They trade all
the way back up I believe, from twelve to three
to get will Anderson. Right, so they pair up Williamerson
with CJ. Stroud. That was a bold move to go
up there and do that. They go out in the
off season, they make a trade for Stefan Diggs. You
know obviously he ended up getting Hurtdanil Hunter comes in there,
and I think of that from a decision making and
(15:49):
then I also think of just having seen them live
and in person, and you've seen them a couple of times.
They're aggressive front. Now it is an attack front as
Matt Matt Burke is. That is his that is his
baby is. They're going to get in those wide nines
and they're pinning their ears back and they are attacking.
So I just wrote aggressive for Houston as the word
that stood out to me.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Yeah, And I would say like that aggressiveness comes out
because I think you could almost say the same thing
about the Texans as you saw about the Rams in
terms of the details and the dogs. When I do
watch the Texans play and I look at Damiko Ryans,
Demiko Ryans was a really good football player.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
In the pros, and his team is like that.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
They are feisty, they're competitive, they don't back down, they
don't give an inch, and he always props up his
quarterback in CJ.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Stroud. But CJ.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Stroud also has that aggressiveness in his game when it
comes to pushing it, and you saw it firsthand. Once
he got into the rhythm. It was the old CJ
that showed up in terms of pushing the ball down
the field, fitting it in the tight areas and doing
those things. The aggressiveness when harness is scary because man,
those guys that go to the line and right beyond
(16:57):
the line, but they make you have to kind of
your hands up, your guards up at all time because
they will come at you and they'll mow you over
if you're not ready to meet them at their level.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Yeah, no, it's served them well and that doesn't come
without risk when you play like that and when you
build a team like that. But I think they take
their shots, which I'm a fan of Baltimore. I just
wrote down identity more than anything else. Like if we
go to the combine, if you look at the free
agent list, if you're a casual fan of football, you
can look at the names and you can look at
the players and go, Okay, well that's a raven The
(17:26):
Ravens will like this guy. Ravens don't really like this guy.
Like they have the clearest identity of any team in
the NFL.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
And I've told you just on multiple occasions, like I've
worked for teams where we always finally looked at what
the Ravens did, and we've always talked about ba Man,
they just go and get really good football players. We
could talk about the profile and the prototypes and those things,
but it always appears that the guys that they would
take were the ones that really popped on the tape.
And he goes back to when I was scout in
(17:55):
the West and Taro Suggs is coming out and he
had I think at the time, the SAC record was
the forty four or forty nine sacks and he ran
slow and everybody jumped off the wagon and digos. He
falls to the Ravens and he becomes No, he doesn't
become He's the same player in.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
The Poles and he was in college.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And to me, the Ravens have done that because they
know exactly who they are. They put them in an
environment where you have a bunch of really good players
doing what they do really well, and it works. And
the example that I would use because we talked about
this dude the entire process, first in the fall and
then in the draft season about how good cal Hamilton
(18:33):
was and how good cal Hamilton was and he's going
to be this and he's gonna be that, and then
he ran slow and everybody backed off.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
But now you look at him in Baltimore at safety,
not at the hyper position.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
They had him at early.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
They put him back at safety and all of their
defensive roles went away because they understand good football players
will continue to play well if you put them in
a system.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
That allows them to do what they've always done really well.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
And they've always always valued some things that the rest
of the league doesn't. Off the ball. Linebackers get paid
in Baltimore. Yes, running backs get paid in Baltimore. Like
these you know safeties with maybe people out it's a cornerly, well, no,
they'll they are, but that's what they've been. The middle
of the field, the spine of the team, like quarterback,
(19:22):
you know, center, middle, linebacker, defensive tackle, safety, They've always
they've always had those guys. Mata BK gets paid like they.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Just always like, it's not it's look. They stay true
to who they are.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
And the funny thing is, like with Ozzy coming over
from Cleveland, the things that they talked about in Baltimore
were the things that Bill Belichick and those guys talked
about in Cleveland and continue to do in New England.
It's not a secret. It's not, you know, it's they
believe in their approach, and their approaches really served them well.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
All right, last team here, Buffalo. I was, I was
trying to think of the right analogy. Maybe you have
one for me.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
I have never snow skied in my life life. I
don't know much about them, but I do know that
the ski lift never stops moving. And I feel like
Buffalo that they've retooled their roster buck but they haven't.
They haven't taken a step back. They haven't even paused.
They found a way to get better as They've changed
a lot of people on this roster, so I just
(20:19):
thought their ability to retool with being doing a great
job there of just kind of retooling this thing, keeping
the core the same, got your head coach, got your quarterback,
swapped out a lot of the other parts, and they're
good as they've ever been.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I think they embraced the blue collar didity of themselves
in the city. They are a blue collar team, they
have a blue collar coach. They understand who they are
and it's reflected in the type of players that they pick. Man,
they get a bunch of worker bees, DJ like, not
a lot of flash to them, like high energy, high
effort players. And to me, this stems from Sean McDermott
(20:55):
and Brandon Bean being on the same page. Sean McDermott
from The Wrestler Guy kind of appreciates the grittiness of
it all.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
That's how that team is. And let's be honest, when
you put them around.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
A next level quarterback, a superstar quarterback, he helps because
would it would it work without Josh Allen as the centerpiece?
I don't know, but the skey lift works when you
got that mountain of a man at quarterback.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Yeah, that's a that's a fact, all right. But before
we take a break, Before we take a break, I'm
not going to ask you to answer this question, but
I'm asking you to think about it. I'm asked if
you're listening or watching, to think about it. Jared Goff,
Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, c. J. Stroud,
Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen. You got to pick in the
(21:43):
top five in this draft class, this current draft class.
Do you think there's one of those dudes is ready
to go to war with those eight dudes. I'm not
gonna ask you. I'm not there. You go, you answered it.
I want gonna put you on the spot. But it
frames it, doesn't It frame it?
Speaker 3 (21:57):
And so and so here's where where like I don't
say I get mad, but I think people always have
to understand, like there's an ideal in a standard that's
out there and that you're always grading to that standard.
And it's not a year to year standard where we
drop say, well, I'm gonna put a first round grade.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
On them this year.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
No, you're always working towards that standard and working for teams.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
DJ.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
If you don't build your team, particularly in the AFC,
to deal with those quarterbacks. You don't have a chance
because those are the guys that you're going to have
to see to eventually get to the championship round, and
so you make sure you better make sure that your
quarterback can live up to that.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Here's the billion dollar question for teams picking in the
top five this year. You have to have an honest
and open discussion about the quarterback you're gonna take in
the top five. Is he close to these eight quarterbacks
that are still playing in the playoffs or is he
closer to the quarterbacks that are going to be available
to you in the second, third, and fourth round of
this draft. That's going to inform you to say, because
(23:00):
if he's closer to those those guys you can get
later in the draft, then Abdul Carter Hunter, all those dudes,
come on down. I'm gonna take a big time dude,
and we're gonna build up the rest of the team,
and we'll take a flyer on one of these guys
in you know, second, third, fourth round.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Well, I mean I look and look, if you're gonna
do that, you do it. I think it's not even
that DJ. I think it comes down to the conversation
that we would typically have in draft rooms. Okay, to
throw those guys out that are remaining in the tournament.
Lets you Sam Donald, all right, Sam Donald versus whoever
you want to put in this class. That's the conversation
(23:37):
that you have to have. Because Sam Donald be the
top free agent on the market. The guys that we're drafting,
are they better talents than Sam Donald? Because if they're not,
that it tells you everything that you need to know
about where you picked them and how you select them.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Yep. And you also if you're a team that gets
Sam Donald and you're one of those teams picking up there,
Now I've got the quarterback and now I've got the
freedom in the luxury. I don't think there's gonna be
a market trade these picks. I don't think you're going
to be able to But I'll tell you what you
can do. Abdell Carter is a bad man. Travis Hunter
is a bad man. Like you can get a impact player.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
You can't go wrong drafting good players.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Yeah. So anyways, that's food for thought. Let's take a break,
we come back. We will, We'll get into a little
hot or Not. Right after this, it's time for Hot
or Not, brought to you by with Sabby Hot Cloud
Storage buck. We will get to what we're thinking about
these games here in a minute, but in terms of hot,
(24:34):
it's hot off the press, just with some of the
changes we've seen here. Coaching hires, Mike Rabel gets hired,
the Cowboys interviewing a lot of people. Dion's Dion's out
there looming out there. They've they're going to bring in
Kellen Moore to talk to him. Robert Salah has been
making the rounds. We've got the Bears, with Mike McCarthy
being a name connected to them. You know what, I'm
(24:56):
going through these lists of candidates, and if I was
going to give you, if you were going to say
one guy you guarantee is gonna get a job in
this cycle? Is there one player you guarantee is gonna
get a job, Because I've got mine, I'm gonna write
it down. I wonder, I just wonder if we're on
the same page, because a lot of times we kind
of see this the same.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
So wait a minute, So you so you asked me
to guarantee which coach is gonna get hired? Discycle this coach.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
If if I was going to say, when all these
seats get filled, that this would be your pick of
one that you feel the most confident is going to
get one of these jobs.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Well, do we keep Ben Johnson on the table or
do we take Ben Johnson?
Speaker 1 (25:34):
You can no, no, you can take him off the table.
But I don't know for sure that he's gonna I mean,
I'm not. I think Vegas is a legit thing with him.
I think they can just throw him so much, you know, money,
and maybe it's power control. I don't know, but I
think Vegas is a legit option there. I'm sure Chicago,
you know, would hire him and heart people. I just
still get the vibe. I don't know that he's found
(25:56):
the perfect spot and there's still a chance he could
stay where he is, So let's just take him.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Okay, I would say, because I don't think there's any
chance that he's coming back to Detroit as.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
A court ready to go.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Who else is off the board, Because once you take
Rabel off the board, and once you take Ben Johnson
now becomes a little murky. I'm gonna say, Aaron Glenn
gets a job, and the reason Aaron Glenn.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Oh, look at you.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
The reason the same page man, Well, the reason why.
There are a couple of things that Aaron Glenn has
working in his favor. I think he has tentacles on
three teams that are looking for coaches, the Jets, the Jacks,
the Saints, so there's a level of knowledge of who
the person is coming in the building.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Two.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
I don't know if you've seen the thing, but he
was on the pivot talking about all the different things
that he's done dj He went from being a scouting
assistant to being a coaching assistant to doing all the
other things. So he unders all of the processes, so
he doesn't come in as someone who's entitled, who skipped
the process jump the line to get where he is.
(27:03):
And I'll say this, I've seen Aaron Glenn become a
better coach over the last few years as a coordinator.
And even though there's no direct correlation between being a
good coordinator and a head coach, the growth that he
has made into three or four years that he's been
in that role suggested me that he has the right
mindset to be a good coach. Good coaches are always
(27:25):
looking for the advantage to get better Aaron Glenn has
showed as a defensive coordinator, he is willing to adapt
a just grow as a coach. That gives me a
reason to believe that he would do the same thing
as a head coach.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Yeah. I just think he has instant credibility. I think
he's got a presence every time I've seen him speaking.
I don't know him. I know you know him better
than I do, but I just I think he's I
think he's got it and it's sometimes it's hard to
describe it. You just know it when you see it.
And I know who he's been around, I know what
fills tree.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Yeah. Philosophically, that's a that's a toughness, details, that's a
that's a imposure. Will like all those things he believes
and I believe in so And I just think with
his background as a player, even buck, this is a
this is a I don't know this. This kind of
stuff gets you in trouble when you say this, just
(28:19):
be careful. But just the way that he presents and
takes care of himself says something to me. And you
know what that says to me is that ye I know,
I know we're not I mean I guess it's that's
frowned upon. But I'm telling you that's in the back
of your head when you see him, Like this guy's
got his ducks in a row. He takes care of himself.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Yeah, he takes hearing himself the way you see him interact,
the way that he presents, and you know a lot
of times and I know we we kind of reached
a point where it's really hard to have these frank
conversations that we used to have in scouting rooms. But
DJ we used to talk about the way that people
would present and how you had to have a presidential
feel about the person in the front room. There had
(28:56):
to be a regalness about how they did it, like
it's it's about having your in a row and I's
dot at Tea's cross.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
So when you say and you.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
Carry the message not only to the team, but can
you carry the message when you stand in front of
the podium and clearly articulate what it is that we're expecting,
the vision and all of those things. And so when
you take that and the player thing, like I always
can respect because Aaron and I were in the same
draft class. We're buddies and those things, but to watch
(29:25):
him grow. I think the level of humility that he's
shown on his coaching journey leads me to believe that
that will also come out as a head coach. It's
one thing to be the problem solver, but it's another
thing to walk in like you to know it all.
I think he has enough of that confidence where you
buy into him, but he has enough humility to go
and get the answers for what he doesn't know.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
Yeah. I think hungry, humble, and smart. Right, we always
come back to that. He seems like he checks all
three of those boxes. And look, before anybody says something,
I know there's been fit coaches who've been failures, and
there've been heavy coach, the coaches in the Hall of Fame,
short coaches, tall coaches. I'm just saying, if you're a
human being that that maybe it's even subconsciously, but it
(30:11):
stands out.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
There is something to the saying how you do anything
is how you do everything. And so what you're looking
for are those who have habits and if they have
the if they have championship habits in their personal life,
they're likely to have championship habits in their professional life.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
So there you go. That's that's always getting too We'll
see what happens some of these other openings and when
they get filled, will break them down here. So you know, look,
we're just getting started here with this offseason. Anything else
you want to add on these coaches, buck.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Well, No, like you finished the thing with a hot
and eye.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I do want to ask you about your take on
Mike Rabel stepping in in New England because I think
it's I think it's fascinating that they didn't like the
previous program under Bill Belichick to only have to come
back to the program that basically Bill Belichick runs with
a little spin on it.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Yeah. No, that's why said that's when we talked about
this previously before he got hired. It reminded me of
the of your tar heels.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
Yes, bring will, Yeah, we can go back like it's
time to come home.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
It is. It is funny how that is. But yeah,
there's a certain way that and I believe this.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
There's a certain way that all organizations have to conduct
their business for them to win.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
There's a blueprint for everybody. You have to be able
to stick to the blueprint.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Yeah, and he is, Uh, nobody wonders about Mike Brabel
who he is. I did see RC's going over there
ran counting.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Yeah, I did. I didn't see. I didn't see the role,
and I'm curious to see.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Like, I mean, him and Elliott, like we're all of
that same, you know, kind of generation. So I know
him and Elliot have known it, and and and Zoe Alonso.
Everybody's known so I'm sure our C has a good
relationship with Sooe as well. So I think some people
look at that and thought, oh gosh, how is this
going to work? Rabel's bringing in his own personnel. Guy,
I'm like, everybody, this is a small league, man. Everybody
knows everybody.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Yeah, everybody knows everybody.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
And ultimately, man like, there's a level of collaboration that
you want to have. And I'll this, man, I think
it's hard for a collection of smart people to screw
things up. Hopefully, what you're doing is you're bringing in
another smart person to the room that allows you to
have high level discussions and even if there's some disagreement,
what it does is it fosters a thorough vetting of
(32:17):
whatever the process is before you make decisions.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
Yeah, no doubt. Well there you go. That was This
week's Hot or Not segment brought to you by with
Sabby Hot cloud storage, store more and do more with
your data. Try them free. Try them for free at
whatsaby dot com. All right, buck, let's go through these
(32:42):
games here. Let's start first of all, Houston and Kansas City.
So far, one of the takeaways for me in this
playoffs has been rust hadn't really been an issue these
teams at sat guys or that rested. I know they
didn't have the buys, but some teams basically took a
buye the last week of the season. Didn't seem to
bother them. Now the Chiefs, that is a prolonged weight
here for them to get ready for this one. But
(33:04):
Houston going in there, how do you see it? Do
you see them having a shot at this thing? And
what do you expect with the Chiefs with all this rest?
Speaker 3 (33:11):
They absolutely have a shot. They have a shot because
they're good enough to qualify to get to this round.
They have a shot because they have enough talent on
offense and defense to do it. I think their path
the victory is a slim one. They have to be
able to control the game. I think Joe Mixon is
the big part of that. They need to be able
to run the football and limit the opportunities that Kansas
City has. And then defensively, they have to find a
(33:32):
way to get Patrick Mahomes on the ground. There's one
thing to say pass rush, it's another thing to get
him on the ground because he's so slippery. In the end, though,
to me, this is all about Kansas City and Kansas
City being able to do what they typically do. This
is not the explosive version of the Kansas City Chiefs,
but this is a team that knows how to win
at Mahomes twelve and two at home during the playoffs.
(33:53):
Andy Reid during a regular season twenty one and four
coming off of buy he has a formula in a
system to allow his player to play really well when
they've had a little time, and Travis Kelcey said this,
and this to me is a deciding factor. Travis kelce said,
great players have to step it up in the playoffs.
These guys are well aware of what is needed to
(34:14):
be a championship team. You don't win three and five
years and go to a fourth without knowing it. To me,
that's the difference. I love what the Texans have done
but Kansas City knows what they're doing when they get
to this point.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Yeah, I look for the Texans, it's pretty simple to
me for them to have a chance in this game,
two things need to happen. They need to take the
football away, which they play aggressive man coverage, and that
can with their pass rush. They've been able to generate
some turnovers and we saw a boatload of them last
week against the Chargers, So can their defense create turnovers?
Number one? At number two, you to figure out a
(34:49):
way to block Chris Jones because there's some matchups that
are pretty favorable for Chris Jones along that front when
offensive line that's had some issues. So we always use this,
uh you know this kind of thought or analogy. There
is hey, four to one man, you better have four
hands on his chest, so you you know, you better
have him doubled at all times and take your chances
(35:10):
with everybody else. But don't let don't get hit with
the right hand man. Don't let Christian ferry game.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
I mean, we see it so much. Don't get here
with the right hand. At least have the garter. Make
them throw.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
Another punch, but don't let him knock you out with
the right hand that you know and.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Is gonna come yeah, one hundred percent. All right, let's
get to Commander's Lions the second game on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
What you're looking for, Uh, this is interesting. I want
to know how the Lions perform being the favorite.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
They have been the football world's darling because they're kind
of like the little train they could, the little engine
that could, like they've they made it, they made it.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
To the top and those things.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
When you're the number one seed, it's a different level
of pressure because the expectations that the lines are gonna
represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. How do they
handle the pressure of that moment? And I think Washington
is uniquely qualified to be able to knock them off one.
They have a superstar quarterback too. They have a number
of defenders that they have championship level experience and if
(36:07):
the game is tight, they understand what is required. I
need to see if the Lions can be as free
willing as they have been throughout the regular season in
the post game with huge consequences if it doesn't go
the right way. Do they become more conservative or do
they continue to put their foot on the gas, because
that is the way that they've gotten to this point.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
I was just looking it up. I was curious about
it that I believe that Washington's only lost one game
indoors this year, and I was thinking about just from
Jade Daniels standpoint of how fast he is in having
a perfect conditions, perfect track could benefit him. So I'm
keeping an eye on that. I think Jade Daniels has
to he might have to run for one hundred in
this because I look, Detroit's gonna score. So you're gonna
(36:51):
have to. You're gonna have to every weapon you got
in this thing.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Yeah, you have to go for it.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
And dan Quinn like recognized the moment last week when
he was more fourth down because he knew that they
wouldn't be able to consistently stop the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They worked out in their favor. The Lion's team that
you know, is high powered. You have to be willing
to go for it. But as we said, playing with
house money, the freedom that the commanders have in this game, man,
(37:17):
it's a lot different when you can take your shot
and you don't feel the weight of responsibility to have
to win that falls on the shoulders of the Lions,
and so That's why the conservativeness, the conservative nature of
the play calls on both sides. That's what I'm looking
to see. Do the Lions change their blueprint now they're
win the stuff that matters?
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Yeah? And also human nature, And we talked about Aaron
Glenn earlier in the show. But when you've got both
coordinators who've got a lot of opportunities and a lot
of attention.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Some distractions. There's some distractions. I don't care what anyone says.
It's hard to stay locked in on that.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
It's hard not to think about the next opportunity, even
though you've worked so hard to get here.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
It's human nature. Can you stay locked in and focused.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
And compartmentalize what is going on to be able to
give you the lines the best version of yourself?
Speaker 1 (38:06):
The Rams Eagles, buck.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Man, you know, and.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
Look DJ, I know the Eagles were okay and they
may have wanted the Rams to come, but I'm gonna
say this man in the playoffs, quarterback play is everything.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
And the one.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Quarterback that I don't know if you necessarily want to
face is Matthew Staff going all the way back to
his time in Detroit. This dude has a knack for
delivering and the biggest moments. You look at his history,
game winning drives, fourth quarter comebacks. He's there. This is
a major stage, and let's be honest, like some of
(38:42):
the mojio and energy that they played with against the
Vikings that to carry on.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
They're not as talented as the Eagles. But if the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Mess around and allow the Rams to hang around, the
Rams can do it. And I say that full well
knowing that the Eagles smacked them around the first time
they faced this.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
All this season.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Yeah, I'm looking at the Rams super Bowl year. They
were Arizona at home, indoors at Tampa, not gonna deal
with much of their weatherwise at home against San Francisco,
and a Super Bowl at home against Cincinnati. It's just
a different environment. When you're going to Philadelphia, it's gonna
be but I think it's gonna be such that's a
little different. It's a little different. And I just think
(39:24):
with Sa Kwan and that offensive line that I mean,
we saw it. They squared off earlier and the Eagles
ran the ball down their throats.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
Well, and they're going to look to do it again.
Let's get distracted.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
If they commit to running the ball and they play
the physical brand of football that they have started to
embrace and play. Yeah, it's gonna be a hard one
for the Rams. Is to me, the thing that holds
the Eagles back would only be the emotional maturity.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
The mature enough to take your business. That's the big thing.
Speaker 3 (39:56):
Like, can they worry about just winning the game and
not about a my numbers, my touches in those things.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
If they do that, then then they should be able
to win.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Yeah, it'll be a interesting game, but it's not gonna
be as fun to watch as this next one. The
last one is the heavyweight matchup. It is the Bills
and the Ravens. And I can't think of a playoff
game that wasn't even a conference championship game that I've
looked forward to more than this one.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
Man, it is such a great game.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
And I'm gonna say this, DJ goes all the way
back to twenty eighteen in the draft because I feel
like both of those guys doing the draft process didn't
get their due in terms of what they could be.
We didn't have the imagination in the league to be
able to really appreciate what they were because they were
both in a way non traditional quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson more
(40:40):
so than Josh Allen, but Josh Allen didn't have the
completion rate that you normally desire in a top pick.
Josh Allen ran around, but he didn't run around to
the level that Lamar Jackson was running around. And to
see them now become top five quarterbacks in this league
where it's unquestioned that they're elite, to see them square off,
to me is fascinating. On the Baltimore side, I just
(41:02):
want to see if the Ravens are going to be
the Ravens. I felt like last year in the AFC
Championship game they got away from the blueprint that really
worked for them. But if they play to their strengths
and just do what they've done, run the football, do
some of that stuff, and don't get distracted by trying
to prove to people they can play a different style,
they're better than the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen is a
(41:24):
superhero and we have seen him put this offense in
this team on the back and then these gotta have
it moments that we talked about, third down, red zone,
two minute in the half, he is going to make
a play with his legs if he has to, can
the Baltimore Ravens get him down? Because he is a
more athletic version of the Ben Roethlisberger that they used
(41:45):
to face, and you would talk about tackling and being
able to get him. Now the key is can they
get number seventeen on the ground.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
Yeah, Well, it's gonna be such a fun game. Man.
I don't know where that game's going to go. If
you told me that either one of those teams blew
the other team out, I don't know that. I'd be
shocked because they're both capable. If you told me this
was an overtime thriller, I could see that happen. It
could be a high scoring game. It could be a
low score. I don't know. I don't know what's going
to happen in this So that's why it's so intriguing
(42:12):
to me.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
Man.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
But this there might be the two most fun quarterbacks
to watch in the NFL, and they're going to be
going at it throwing Haymaker. It's gonna be fun.
Speaker 2 (42:21):
DJ.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
There'll only be three quarterbacks in NFL history that have
scored forty plus touchdowns, rush for more than five hundred yards,
and had fewer than seven interceptions Josh Allen and Lamar
Jackson twice Josh Allen Lamar Jackson this year and then
Lamar Jackson back.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
In twenty nineteen. Like, think about that.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
That is ridiculous what they've been able to do in
the National Football League. These dudes are specially their unicorns,
and I am just glad that we will have an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (42:51):
We won't fully give either one of those guys their flowers,
but we'll.
Speaker 3 (42:54):
Have an opportunity to see what could be when you
take a chance on guys to have elite traits even
though their games.
Speaker 2 (43:01):
May be a little unorthodox.
Speaker 1 (43:03):
Yeah, think about the three of the four teams that
are remaining in the AFC or Andy Reid, you know,
Andy Reid and two of his disciples and Harbara McDermott
going at it in this game. So there's familiarity of
how they want to play, who they are as people,
what they want to do. These guys have had longevity
in their stops. So it's gonna be a great game
(43:23):
and I'm looking forward to I'm going to hitch you
up for a winner on these buck I've already posted
mine on there. I ended up with I.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Ended up with Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (43:31):
I ended up with Chiefs, Lions, Eagles, Bills. So I
ended up going home team, straight down, straight down the line.
Speaker 3 (43:39):
The only change that we have is I had the
Ravens over the Buffalo Bills. Everything it says to me,
DJ the Ravens over the Bills. It literally comes down
to if the Ravens play, if they play to their identity,
they have more talent, and so because they have more talent,
they had the opportunity to score more. This might be
(44:01):
the game, in my mind where Buffalo feels the lack
of an elite playmaker on the perimeter. That's the only
reason why I would give the Ravens not I don't
think it's gonna be the blowout that we saw earlier.
Speaker 2 (44:12):
This is gonna be a fourth quarter fair and one
of those quarterbacks they have the big play to win it.
Speaker 1 (44:17):
Yeah. Man, it's just it's hard to believe that this
league allowed Derrick Henry to team up with Lamar Jackson,
and they.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
Said, is that.
Speaker 3 (44:24):
I mean, like, of all the things, and like, let's
just say this, the Ravens do not mind taking I
know the Titans aren't the ribble that they once were,
but they sure don't mind stealing people from de ryals
don't like they sure don't.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
I mean, if you're gonna let them go to say hey,
we'll we'll take them.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
I just I just I just think about the Kansas
City Chiefs and some of the wars they've had in
the playoffs, you know, and in games against Derrick Henry
and the Titans, and they've had wars against the Ravens
and Lamar Jackson, and both of those teams struggle to
take down the Chiefs, and it's almost like, hey, let's
team up, man, let's let's join up. Let's join forces
and see if together we can't topple this. Not in
(45:00):
Kansas City, So they got to get through Buffalo first, though.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Man, it's gonna be a tough one. It's gonna be tough,
but it's gonna be a great one to see. And
I can't wait for us to talk about it when
we come back.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Yep, looking forward to it. All right, This is a
beefy episode. Hope you guys enjoyed it. It really is
the best time of the year. Cannot wait for these ballgames.
We will have all the reaction that'll be coming your
way next week. As we continue to break down what's
happening in the coaching side of things as well and
start dipping our toe in the draft waters as well.
So hope you guys enjoyed this one. We'll see you
(45:29):
next time right here on, move the sticks.
And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
What's up, everybody? Walcome to move the sticks? DJ?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Buck with you?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Buck? What's going on? Man? How you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Not too much? DJ?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Just really excited this time of year because it's so unusual.
I have college football still going. Normally we're talking about
all star games, but not a college football game. So
to have the Natty coming up on top of a
great weekend of football.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
When you talk about the Division A round, doesn't get
much better than this.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Yeah, no, it's uh, it's definitely world's converging at this
point in time, like trying to really get cranking on
the college kids. Now that that that bear jumped on
my back, Buck, I don't know what happened. I turned
it out all over my back, So I got working
on that stuff. Then, you know, with enjoying the playoffs
both you know, the final game coming up on the
(00:49):
college side, as well as what's going on in the NFL.
There's a there's a lot of great football stuff going on.
I want to take today's episode and we'll we'll get
to some Newsy stuff and some coaching news and uh
potential hires. What the information we have as we're recording.
We'll get to that in a little bit. But I
want to talk about these eight teams that are remaining
in the playoffs. And I got this idea actually from
(01:11):
Brock Hueer the other day, and he asked this question
and that I took some time to think about it
because I was like, Okay, let me give some thought
to this. But he was he was wondering, what lesson
can you take from the eight teams that are left,
be it on the field, personnel, department, team building, like
any less is there anything you can learn from them
that you could take with you if you know, we're
(01:32):
a general manager of a team. So I'm gonna I'm
gonna rip through and we'll go one by one. I'll
give you mine, and then just what comes to mind
for you, like if there's anything different, And let's start
with this. Let's start with the first thing for all eight.
We're not even going to talk about quarterbacks, because seven
of these eight teams have quarterbacks who were first round picks.
(01:52):
Like a talented quarterback in the eighth is Jalen Hurts,
who you know has a lot of ability, was a
second round So we're going to assume to get into
the party, you got to have one of those. So
and having a great quarterback doesn't ensure you make it
to the final eight, but it's hard to get into
the final eight if you don't have a great quarterback.
That's I think that's a good premise to start from.
You agree on that front, Yeah, I'm definitely with you,
and that like that is definitely a great room.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
You got to have the franchise quarterback, no matter how
you get it, you have to have one to give
you separate chance because as we're seeing, if you don't
have a quarterback, you don't have a chance in the tournament.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
And on that point, and we'll get to the Philadelphia
in a minute, but the one team who does not
have a first round quarterback, I think with you, we
would say that they have the most talented roster supporting
that quarterback. So that's just an interesting nugget there. But
let's start with Detroit. And if I was going to
think of a word with Detroit, I wrote down alignment.
(02:46):
I don't know if there's a better organizational alignment in
the NFL than what Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell from
the Jump Bud Buck They were on. They knew what
they wanted and what they wanted that team to look like,
and they went out and got it done.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
So it's kind of like one of the things that
I believe when we talk about building a championship team
is not discussed enough off from top to bottom. Everyone
has to be aligned in terms of their vision for
how the team is going to operate, what the team
should look like, and all of those things. It doesn't
mean that we don't have different opinions on maybe players,
(03:23):
but there is a universal belief in the type of team,
the type of player from a character football character trade
standpoint that we must have on our team to be
able to succeed what you've seen in Detroit. And look,
I'll give the owners a lot of credit for the
patients they exhibited because they could have pun it on
this project after a year and a half when it
(03:43):
didn't get off to a fast start, but they stayed
true to who.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
They were and they've been rewarded.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
On the other side, Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes, they
get it because the general manager supplies to head coach
with the type of players that fit how the coach
wants to They're in lockstep with the football character part
of the situation in terms of the greediness to competitives,
to toughness, all of those things.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It works. And DJ I'll say this particularly.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
I don't know if you've been listening to some of
the conversations that's been coming out from the losing teams,
teams that didn't make it to the playoffs, but there's
been a lot of conversation about a lack of accountability.
We need this, and we don't have guys that care
and all this other stuff, And to me, it speaks
to a bigger problem that exists in the NFL. If
(04:33):
you don't have everybody aligned, if your culture and your
environment is right, you have no chance. And I think
everyone is now pointing to the Lions as the city
on the heel when it comes to creating culture and
buy in making sure you get the right players that
fit the image of the organization.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Yeah, I was just looking at the way that they've
done things and not only is it just kind of
you having that alignment and that fit, but it reminded me.
And this is a little bit of a left turn
here of as we go into draft season. If you're
a fan, right and you have a team that you want,
you know, we need some players. Think about think less
(05:14):
about how people rank these guys, like you're gonna see
a mill everybody's got rankings and mock drafts and you're
gonna look at that. No, No, don't pay attention to the
number of where they're ranked. Pay attention to what's read. Like,
pay attention to what you read in terms of the
description of the player, because fit has never been more important.
And if you know, like we talk about alignment, and
(05:35):
you kind of know what you're looking for, then you
might say, Okay, this guy is the fourth ranked whatever.
But you know what, man, he reads the way he reads.
That's the kind of player that we that we not
like like, that's our type of guy. And that's why
I honestly think our side of things is so much
harder than working for a team when you're when I'm
trying to stack these guys. You got to stack these guys.
(05:57):
We don't. We're not stacking for a scheme or a
or a per personality or a fit. Now that's why
to me, I just try this out, trust me, just
try it out for one year. Just read it, just
read the descriptions. And that'll inform you on whether or
not he's a good player for your team.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
One percent, And you're right.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
We don't have the ability to kind of do the
deep dive when it comes to the character, whether there's
more character or football character to know if a guy's
a perfect fit in certain situations. We may be trying
to play matchmaker with mock drafts in those things. But
what we can do is we can assess the talent.
We can see how they play, and we can reject
how they may play in the ideal system for what
(06:36):
their talents show. But it's a very difficult thing and
for organizations that's why it's really clear before you even
start the rebuild process. You have to talk through what
you want to be. You know, when you think about
the teams that have been successful for a while, teams
that are always competitive may not win every year, but
they're always in the hunt. There seems to be a
(06:57):
clear compass for how they want to opt because they
know who they are and they know which players fit
what they want to do.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
No doubt. And look, we spend a litle extra time
on Detroit. We don't have to go as in depth
on this one because some of this conversation we've had
before on Washington. Washington. Obviously, the home run, the coach,
all that stuff knocked that out of the park, but
also we talked about the value of the vets. That's
kind of what I wrote down on there is there's
having guys who've been on championship level teams and then
been big in championship moments. Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, those
(07:27):
types of players, even Andrew Wiley's been on a super
Bowl team. I think there's that's a great reminder from
them that there's value in vets with championship experience.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, I would, I would even go a step furtherest.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Not only value in vets, but when you're the head coach,
you need to bring some people with you. And it's
very very common whenever you have a new head coaching
hire that he will reach back in this past and
pull some guys that he knows to help him create
the culture that he wants. In Washington. He not only
brought people that he knows that buy into the he
(08:00):
wants to do things, but they also have championship experience
in pedigree. And I don't care what anyone says, man
that experience brings a level of expertise. I don't think
it's a coincidence that they played the way that they
played last weekend with Bobby Wagner installs as to Mike Linebacker.
Because they've done it time and time again, it's easier
to tell the rest of the team where the young guys,
(08:22):
here's what's about to happen when we get to the postseason.
The game becomes a little fast, a little more physical,
and these things. Here's how we need to prepare to
be able to get it done. To me, that is
very valuable and the commanders saw the value in that
as they were trying to turn around the program.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
And I think especially around a young quarterback buck I
mean just having all those different veteran pieces. Zach Hurtz
has caught a game winner in a Super Bowl. Oh yeah,
I mean that's a it's anyways, I think there's value there.
Philly and we talked about how deep in talented their
roster is. I just wrote down, like, have you can
you think of a team that has kept their priorities
(08:58):
in perspective more than Philly, Like it has been a
line of scrimmage add talent every year for twenty years buck,
that's all I mean. It's like they've never veered. Like
I just put down that they have always had the
proper priorities, is what I put to Philly.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yeah, keep the main thing, the main thing, and the
main thing in Philly has been dominating the line of scrimmage.
Doesn't matter what you have around you on the perimeter.
If we can dominate the line of scrimmage, it always
gives us a chance to win. And the Philadelphia Egos
have embraced that more than maybe anybody else in the
National Football League by constantly pumping resources into the offensive
and defensive lines. People will talk about, well, yeah, you
(09:35):
know they got Devonte Smith in the first round. Yeah,
but that's after the rest of the house had been built.
The foundation was right, like you had all of the
skeleton in place, and so now you can go out
and do that. But if we go back and look
right after that, they went right back and got a
line of scrimmage player because that's what they do. They
believe in that, and it's been very successful for them.
(09:56):
And I think the funny thing is when you hear
so many people talk about, oh, to be a line
of scrimmers, team.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah, but your actions don't.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
They don't match your words. Words yep.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So if you're going to be a team that is
about the line of scrimmage, then everything that you do
is about the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And that's what it feels the Eagles have done.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Yep. All right, this is an interesting one for the Rams.
I love this as a almost like a slogan. I
wrote down details and dogs like they are as detailed
as it gets. Like just think about how they run
routes and how they how they how crisp they are
(10:33):
in their details. I think they're detailed in terms of
their evaluation with less sneed they have. They have traits
that they they covet and they want to go get.
And then just look at their defensive front with all
the dudes that they've added. Those are dogs. Like if
you were gonna if you watched Jared Verse last year,
you knew one thing he will he will freaking jack
(10:54):
you at the line of scrimmage. Like that is that
is a animal, and that's that's kind of what they've cultva.
This teammate, Jared Festu is the same way Kobe Turner,
same way. Like those guys play you know what till
a wall at all times, and.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
So that's the hardest thing to find, like because everyone
talks about like being competitive and that, oh I love
the game and this, but it's another way. It's another
thing to find people that truly love it right and
the ones who truly love it because we've already heard
the stories about the Rams and how early their young
guys are getting in and how they're really committed to
the process and how they found that in Puka Nakua
(11:30):
and how they also foster that by in a way
pairing their young guys with vets that exhibit the right
traits and characteristics. So it kind of permeates throughout the team.
This is a team that is very detailed on how
they do it. All you have to do is look
at the game on Monday night and how they played
on defense man the tension to detail and how they
all were on the same page. But the competitive energy
(11:53):
and edge that they had that matters. And Sean McVay,
because they're always talking about teams being reflection of the coach.
When you said details and dog, when I watch him
and watch him coach, we all can hear his attention
to detail. But when you see his feisting this on
the sideline. He is as competitive as they come. And
(12:14):
having been around teams that have struggled and of not
being able to turn it around, to see them start
at one in four and turn it around and do
it in back to back years. Man, that reveals the
character of the coach that even when it's bad, I'll
find a way to fix it.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
We'll get it fixed.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
And I remember when we talked to less need or
I don't remember if we had him on if I
talked him on the side, but we had mentioned it
before as we talked about, gosh, you get these offensive guys,
these receivers, it's up and running, you know, like Cooper
Cup and and all the different guys that they've had
in there that have just they pop right in and
then and then off they go.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
And and he was.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Like, well, yeah, we get smart football players on the
offensive side of the ball. They're Pooka Nakula, very sharp, smart,
Kiren Will as a running back. Listen to him, pop,
he's freaking smartest crud, you know what I mean? Like,
they have got a bunch of smart football players on offense.
And I'm not saying they're not as smart on defense.
But I'm saying attitude may be a little more at
(13:13):
the forefront on defense, and then aptitude may be a
little bit more on offense.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
That's a really good observation when we talk about intelligent
those things. And I've kind of told you about this
when I was with the Carolina Pans and we went
to Super Bowl thirty eight. When we looked at the
final four, they were the most Those four teams had
the most college graduates on the team. And it doesn't matter,
but it kind of speaks to base level of intelligence,
goal setting, being able to start something and finish something.
(13:41):
And so if you have a smart team comp as
of smart players, it just kind of raises the ceiling
for the team. And I think the Rams have figured
that part out. They know exactly what they are and
so we can talk about alignment, but yeah, less need
and Sean mcvayor line, but man, the details and the
dog definitely shows up whenever this team plays.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
All right, let's get to the other conference at AFC
Kansas City Buck that we've talked about. This secret weapon
for them, I wrote down it's continuity. I mean, you've
had Patrick Mahomes who's been in one offensive system his
entire career. You've got Steve Spagnolo, who the league's not
just hasn't been willing to give another shot as a
head coach, so he just keeps coming back year over year.
(14:22):
You've got head coach quarterback both you know and offense
defensive schemes that don't change.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
No, so that you grow in it, well, you don't change.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
You're comfortable, you're able to grow in the system, and
growing in the system, you can start to layer and
add to it. Also, when you have young guys that
jump in there, there's comfort in knowing that every year
I know exactly what I'm doing, so I can get
better and better and I can spend less of my
time worrying about scheme and more of my time worrying
(14:51):
about skill development in those And it's not a coincidence
that when we talk about the draft and DEVELOPM model
that they've used, it's work because they do keep things
consistent and it does allow them to spend a lot
of the off season and a lot of the time
working on the individual skills.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yep, no doubt. With Houston, I really thought about them
because I was trying to figure out what I would
you know what I would go with there, and I
wrote aggressive and aggressive organizationally when you look at what
they did, Look, you trade Deshaun Watson. That's an aggressive move.
You know, you know you got a young Pro Bowl quarterback,
(15:27):
they trade him. That's an aggressive move. They trade all
the way back up I believe, from twelve to three
to get will Anderson. Right, so they pair up Williamerson
with CJ. Stroud. That was a bold move to go
up there and do that. They go out in the
off season, they make a trade for Stefan Diggs. You
know obviously he ended up getting Hurtdanil Hunter comes in there,
and I think of that from a decision making and
(15:49):
then I also think of just having seen them live
and in person, and you've seen them a couple of times.
They're aggressive front. Now it is an attack front as
Matt Matt Burke is. That is his that is his
baby is. They're going to get in those wide nines
and they're pinning their ears back and they are attacking.
So I just wrote aggressive for Houston as the word
that stood out to me.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Yeah, And I would say like that aggressiveness comes out
because I think you could almost say the same thing
about the Texans as you saw about the Rams in
terms of the details and the dogs. When I do
watch the Texans play and I look at Damiko Ryans,
Demiko Ryans was a really good football player.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
In the pros, and his team is like that.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
They are feisty, they're competitive, they don't back down, they
don't give an inch, and he always props up his
quarterback in CJ.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Stroud. But CJ.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Stroud also has that aggressiveness in his game when it
comes to pushing it, and you saw it firsthand. Once
he got into the rhythm. It was the old CJ
that showed up in terms of pushing the ball down
the field, fitting it in the tight areas and doing
those things. The aggressiveness when harness is scary because man,
those guys that go to the line and right beyond
(16:57):
the line, but they make you have to kind of
your hands up, your guards up at all time because
they will come at you and they'll mow you over
if you're not ready to meet them at their level.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Yeah, no, it's served them well and that doesn't come
without risk when you play like that and when you
build a team like that. But I think they take
their shots, which I'm a fan of Baltimore. I just
wrote down identity more than anything else. Like if we
go to the combine, if you look at the free
agent list, if you're a casual fan of football, you
can look at the names and you can look at
the players and go, Okay, well that's a raven The
(17:26):
Ravens will like this guy. Ravens don't really like this guy.
Like they have the clearest identity of any team in
the NFL.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
And I've told you just on multiple occasions, like I've
worked for teams where we always finally looked at what
the Ravens did, and we've always talked about ba Man,
they just go and get really good football players. We
could talk about the profile and the prototypes and those things,
but it always appears that the guys that they would
take were the ones that really popped on the tape.
And he goes back to when I was scout in
(17:55):
the West and Taro Suggs is coming out and he
had I think at the time, the SAC record was
the forty four or forty nine sacks and he ran
slow and everybody jumped off the wagon and digos. He
falls to the Ravens and he becomes No, he doesn't
become He's the same player in.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
The Poles and he was in college.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And to me, the Ravens have done that because they
know exactly who they are. They put them in an
environment where you have a bunch of really good players
doing what they do really well, and it works. And
the example that I would use because we talked about
this dude the entire process, first in the fall and
then in the draft season about how good cal Hamilton
(18:33):
was and how good cal Hamilton was and he's going
to be this and he's gonna be that, and then
he ran slow and everybody backed off.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
But now you look at him in Baltimore at safety,
not at the hyper position.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
They had him at early.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
They put him back at safety and all of their
defensive roles went away because they understand good football players
will continue to play well if you put them in
a system.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
That allows them to do what they've always done really well.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
And they've always always valued some things that the rest
of the league doesn't. Off the ball. Linebackers get paid
in Baltimore. Yes, running backs get paid in Baltimore. Like
these you know safeties with maybe people out it's a cornerly, well, no,
they'll they are, but that's what they've been. The middle
of the field, the spine of the team, like quarterback,
(19:22):
you know, center, middle, linebacker, defensive tackle, safety, They've always
they've always had those guys. Mata BK gets paid like they.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Just always like, it's not it's look. They stay true
to who they are.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
And the funny thing is, like with Ozzy coming over
from Cleveland, the things that they talked about in Baltimore
were the things that Bill Belichick and those guys talked
about in Cleveland and continue to do in New England.
It's not a secret. It's not, you know, it's they
believe in their approach, and their approaches really served them well.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
All right, last team here, Buffalo. I was, I was
trying to think of the right analogy. Maybe you have
one for me.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
I have never snow skied in my life life. I
don't know much about them, but I do know that
the ski lift never stops moving. And I feel like
Buffalo that they've retooled their roster buck but they haven't.
They haven't taken a step back. They haven't even paused.
They found a way to get better as They've changed
a lot of people on this roster, so I just
(20:19):
thought their ability to retool with being doing a great
job there of just kind of retooling this thing, keeping
the core the same, got your head coach, got your quarterback,
swapped out a lot of the other parts, and they're
good as they've ever been.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I think they embraced the blue collar didity of themselves
in the city. They are a blue collar team, they
have a blue collar coach. They understand who they are
and it's reflected in the type of players that they pick. Man,
they get a bunch of worker bees, DJ like, not
a lot of flash to them, like high energy, high
effort players. And to me, this stems from Sean McDermott
(20:55):
and Brandon Bean being on the same page. Sean McDermott
from The Wrestler Guy kind of appreciates the grittiness of
it all.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
That's how that team is. And let's be honest, when
you put them around.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
A next level quarterback, a superstar quarterback, he helps because
would it would it work without Josh Allen as the centerpiece?
I don't know, but the skey lift works when you
got that mountain of a man at quarterback.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Yeah, that's a that's a fact, all right. But before
we take a break, Before we take a break, I'm
not going to ask you to answer this question, but
I'm asking you to think about it. I'm asked if
you're listening or watching, to think about it. Jared Goff,
Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, c. J. Stroud,
Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen. You got to pick in the
(21:43):
top five in this draft class, this current draft class.
Do you think there's one of those dudes is ready
to go to war with those eight dudes. I'm not
gonna ask you. I'm not there. You go, you answered it.
I want gonna put you on the spot. But it
frames it, doesn't It frame it?
Speaker 3 (21:57):
And so and so here's where where like I don't
say I get mad, but I think people always have
to understand, like there's an ideal in a standard that's
out there and that you're always grading to that standard.
And it's not a year to year standard where we
drop say, well, I'm gonna put a first round grade.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
On them this year.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
No, you're always working towards that standard and working for teams.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
DJ.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
If you don't build your team, particularly in the AFC,
to deal with those quarterbacks. You don't have a chance
because those are the guys that you're going to have
to see to eventually get to the championship round, and
so you make sure you better make sure that your
quarterback can live up to that.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Here's the billion dollar question for teams picking in the
top five this year. You have to have an honest
and open discussion about the quarterback you're gonna take in
the top five. Is he close to these eight quarterbacks
that are still playing in the playoffs or is he
closer to the quarterbacks that are going to be available
to you in the second, third, and fourth round of
this draft. That's going to inform you to say, because
(23:00):
if he's closer to those those guys you can get
later in the draft, then Abdul Carter Hunter, all those dudes,
come on down. I'm gonna take a big time dude,
and we're gonna build up the rest of the team,
and we'll take a flyer on one of these guys
in you know, second, third, fourth round.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Well, I mean I look and look, if you're gonna
do that, you do it. I think it's not even
that DJ. I think it comes down to the conversation
that we would typically have in draft rooms. Okay, to
throw those guys out that are remaining in the tournament.
Lets you Sam Donald, all right, Sam Donald versus whoever
you want to put in this class. That's the conversation
(23:37):
that you have to have. Because Sam Donald be the
top free agent on the market. The guys that we're drafting,
are they better talents than Sam Donald? Because if they're not,
that it tells you everything that you need to know
about where you picked them and how you select them.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Yep. And you also if you're a team that gets
Sam Donald and you're one of those teams picking up there,
Now I've got the quarterback and now I've got the
freedom in the luxury. I don't think there's gonna be
a market trade these picks. I don't think you're going
to be able to But I'll tell you what you
can do. Abdell Carter is a bad man. Travis Hunter
is a bad man. Like you can get a impact player.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
You can't go wrong drafting good players.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Yeah. So anyways, that's food for thought. Let's take a break,
we come back. We will, We'll get into a little
hot or Not. Right after this, it's time for Hot
or Not, brought to you by with Sabby Hot Cloud
Storage buck. We will get to what we're thinking about
these games here in a minute, but in terms of hot,
(24:34):
it's hot off the press, just with some of the
changes we've seen here. Coaching hires, Mike Rabel gets hired,
the Cowboys interviewing a lot of people. Dion's Dion's out
there looming out there. They've they're going to bring in
Kellen Moore to talk to him. Robert Salah has been
making the rounds. We've got the Bears, with Mike McCarthy
being a name connected to them. You know what, I'm
(24:56):
going through these lists of candidates, and if I was
going to give you, if you were going to say
one guy you guarantee is gonna get a job in
this cycle? Is there one player you guarantee is gonna
get a job, Because I've got mine, I'm gonna write
it down. I wonder, I just wonder if we're on
the same page, because a lot of times we kind
of see this the same.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
So wait a minute, So you so you asked me
to guarantee which coach is gonna get hired? Discycle this coach.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
If if I was going to say, when all these
seats get filled, that this would be your pick of
one that you feel the most confident is going to
get one of these jobs.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Well, do we keep Ben Johnson on the table or
do we take Ben Johnson?
Speaker 1 (25:34):
You can no, no, you can take him off the table.
But I don't know for sure that he's gonna I mean,
I'm not. I think Vegas is a legit thing with him.
I think they can just throw him so much, you know, money,
and maybe it's power control. I don't know, but I
think Vegas is a legit option there. I'm sure Chicago,
you know, would hire him and heart people. I just
still get the vibe. I don't know that he's found
(25:56):
the perfect spot and there's still a chance he could
stay where he is, So let's just take him.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Okay, I would say, because I don't think there's any
chance that he's coming back to Detroit as.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
A court ready to go.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Who else is off the board, Because once you take
Rabel off the board, and once you take Ben Johnson
now becomes a little murky. I'm gonna say, Aaron Glenn
gets a job, and the reason Aaron Glenn.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Oh, look at you.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
The reason the same page man, Well, the reason why.
There are a couple of things that Aaron Glenn has
working in his favor. I think he has tentacles on
three teams that are looking for coaches, the Jets, the Jacks,
the Saints, so there's a level of knowledge of who
the person is coming in the building.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Two.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
I don't know if you've seen the thing, but he
was on the pivot talking about all the different things
that he's done dj He went from being a scouting
assistant to being a coaching assistant to doing all the
other things. So he unders all of the processes, so
he doesn't come in as someone who's entitled, who skipped
the process jump the line to get where he is.
(27:03):
And I'll say this, I've seen Aaron Glenn become a
better coach over the last few years as a coordinator.
And even though there's no direct correlation between being a
good coordinator and a head coach, the growth that he
has made into three or four years that he's been
in that role suggested me that he has the right
mindset to be a good coach. Good coaches are always
(27:25):
looking for the advantage to get better Aaron Glenn has
showed as a defensive coordinator, he is willing to adapt
a just grow as a coach. That gives me a
reason to believe that he would do the same thing
as a head coach.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Yeah. I just think he has instant credibility. I think
he's got a presence every time I've seen him speaking.
I don't know him. I know you know him better
than I do, but I just I think he's I
think he's got it and it's sometimes it's hard to
describe it. You just know it when you see it.
And I know who he's been around, I know what
fills tree.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Yeah. Philosophically, that's a that's a toughness, details, that's a
that's a imposure. Will like all those things he believes
and I believe in so And I just think with
his background as a player, even buck, this is a
this is a I don't know this. This kind of
stuff gets you in trouble when you say this, just
(28:19):
be careful. But just the way that he presents and
takes care of himself says something to me. And you
know what that says to me is that ye I know,
I know we're not I mean I guess it's that's
frowned upon. But I'm telling you that's in the back
of your head when you see him, Like this guy's
got his ducks in a row. He takes care of himself.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Yeah, he takes hearing himself the way you see him interact,
the way that he presents, and you know a lot
of times and I know we we kind of reached
a point where it's really hard to have these frank
conversations that we used to have in scouting rooms. But
DJ we used to talk about the way that people
would present and how you had to have a presidential
feel about the person in the front room. There had
(28:56):
to be a regalness about how they did it, like
it's it's about having your in a row and I's
dot at Tea's cross.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
So when you say and you.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
Carry the message not only to the team, but can
you carry the message when you stand in front of
the podium and clearly articulate what it is that we're expecting,
the vision and all of those things. And so when
you take that and the player thing, like I always
can respect because Aaron and I were in the same
draft class. We're buddies and those things, but to watch
(29:25):
him grow. I think the level of humility that he's
shown on his coaching journey leads me to believe that
that will also come out as a head coach. It's
one thing to be the problem solver, but it's another
thing to walk in like you to know it all.
I think he has enough of that confidence where you
buy into him, but he has enough humility to go
and get the answers for what he doesn't know.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
Yeah. I think hungry, humble, and smart. Right, we always
come back to that. He seems like he checks all
three of those boxes. And look, before anybody says something,
I know there's been fit coaches who've been failures, and
there've been heavy coach, the coaches in the Hall of Fame,
short coaches, tall coaches. I'm just saying, if you're a
human being that that maybe it's even subconsciously, but it
(30:11):
stands out.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
There is something to the saying how you do anything
is how you do everything. And so what you're looking
for are those who have habits and if they have
the if they have championship habits in their personal life,
they're likely to have championship habits in their professional life.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
So there you go. That's that's always getting too We'll
see what happens some of these other openings and when
they get filled, will break them down here. So you know, look,
we're just getting started here with this offseason. Anything else
you want to add on these coaches, buck.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Well, No, like you finished the thing with a hot
and eye.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I do want to ask you about your take on
Mike Rabel stepping in in New England because I think
it's I think it's fascinating that they didn't like the
previous program under Bill Belichick to only have to come
back to the program that basically Bill Belichick runs with
a little spin on it.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Yeah. No, that's why said that's when we talked about
this previously before he got hired. It reminded me of
the of your tar heels.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
Yes, bring will, Yeah, we can go back like it's
time to come home.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
It is. It is funny how that is. But yeah,
there's a certain way that and I believe this.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
There's a certain way that all organizations have to conduct
their business for them to win.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
There's a blueprint for everybody. You have to be able
to stick to the blueprint.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Yeah, and he is, Uh, nobody wonders about Mike Brabel
who he is. I did see RC's going over there
ran counting.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Yeah, I did. I didn't see. I didn't see the role,
and I'm curious to see.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Like, I mean, him and Elliott, like we're all of
that same, you know, kind of generation. So I know
him and Elliot have known it, and and and Zoe Alonso.
Everybody's known so I'm sure our C has a good
relationship with Sooe as well. So I think some people
look at that and thought, oh gosh, how is this
going to work? Rabel's bringing in his own personnel. Guy,
I'm like, everybody, this is a small league, man. Everybody
knows everybody.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Yeah, everybody knows everybody.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
And ultimately, man like, there's a level of collaboration that
you want to have. And I'll this, man, I think
it's hard for a collection of smart people to screw
things up. Hopefully, what you're doing is you're bringing in
another smart person to the room that allows you to
have high level discussions and even if there's some disagreement,
what it does is it fosters a thorough vetting of
(32:17):
whatever the process is before you make decisions.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
Yeah, no doubt. Well there you go. That was This
week's Hot or Not segment brought to you by with
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your data. Try them free. Try them for free at
whatsaby dot com. All right, buck, let's go through these
(32:42):
games here. Let's start first of all, Houston and Kansas City.
So far, one of the takeaways for me in this
playoffs has been rust hadn't really been an issue these
teams at sat guys or that rested. I know they
didn't have the buys, but some teams basically took a
buye the last week of the season. Didn't seem to
bother them. Now the Chiefs, that is a prolonged weight
here for them to get ready for this one. But
(33:04):
Houston going in there, how do you see it? Do
you see them having a shot at this thing? And
what do you expect with the Chiefs with all this rest?
Speaker 3 (33:11):
They absolutely have a shot. They have a shot because
they're good enough to qualify to get to this round.
They have a shot because they have enough talent on
offense and defense to do it. I think their path
the victory is a slim one. They have to be
able to control the game. I think Joe Mixon is
the big part of that. They need to be able
to run the football and limit the opportunities that Kansas
City has. And then defensively, they have to find a
(33:32):
way to get Patrick Mahomes on the ground. There's one
thing to say pass rush, it's another thing to get
him on the ground because he's so slippery. In the end, though,
to me, this is all about Kansas City and Kansas
City being able to do what they typically do. This
is not the explosive version of the Kansas City Chiefs,
but this is a team that knows how to win
at Mahomes twelve and two at home during the playoffs.
(33:53):
Andy Reid during a regular season twenty one and four
coming off of buy he has a formula in a
system to allow his player to play really well when
they've had a little time, and Travis Kelcey said this,
and this to me is a deciding factor. Travis kelce said,
great players have to step it up in the playoffs.
These guys are well aware of what is needed to
(34:14):
be a championship team. You don't win three and five
years and go to a fourth without knowing it. To me,
that's the difference. I love what the Texans have done
but Kansas City knows what they're doing when they get
to this point.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Yeah, I look for the Texans, it's pretty simple to
me for them to have a chance in this game,
two things need to happen. They need to take the
football away, which they play aggressive man coverage, and that
can with their pass rush. They've been able to generate
some turnovers and we saw a boatload of them last
week against the Chargers, So can their defense create turnovers?
Number one? At number two, you to figure out a
(34:49):
way to block Chris Jones because there's some matchups that
are pretty favorable for Chris Jones along that front when
offensive line that's had some issues. So we always use this,
uh you know this kind of thought or analogy. There
is hey, four to one man, you better have four
hands on his chest, so you you know, you better
have him doubled at all times and take your chances
(35:10):
with everybody else. But don't let don't get hit with
the right hand man. Don't let Christian ferry game.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
I mean, we see it so much. Don't get here
with the right hand. At least have the garter. Make
them throw.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
Another punch, but don't let him knock you out with
the right hand that you know and.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Is gonna come yeah, one hundred percent. All right, let's
get to Commander's Lions the second game on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
What you're looking for, Uh, this is interesting. I want
to know how the Lions perform being the favorite.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
They have been the football world's darling because they're kind
of like the little train they could, the little engine
that could, like they've they made it, they made it.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
To the top and those things.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
When you're the number one seed, it's a different level
of pressure because the expectations that the lines are gonna
represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. How do they
handle the pressure of that moment? And I think Washington
is uniquely qualified to be able to knock them off one.
They have a superstar quarterback too. They have a number
of defenders that they have championship level experience and if
(36:07):
the game is tight, they understand what is required. I
need to see if the Lions can be as free
willing as they have been throughout the regular season in
the post game with huge consequences if it doesn't go
the right way. Do they become more conservative or do
they continue to put their foot on the gas, because
that is the way that they've gotten to this point.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
I was just looking it up. I was curious about
it that I believe that Washington's only lost one game
indoors this year, and I was thinking about just from
Jade Daniels standpoint of how fast he is in having
a perfect conditions, perfect track could benefit him. So I'm
keeping an eye on that. I think Jade Daniels has
to he might have to run for one hundred in
this because I look, Detroit's gonna score. So you're gonna
(36:51):
have to. You're gonna have to every weapon you got
in this thing.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Yeah, you have to go for it.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
And dan Quinn like recognized the moment last week when
he was more fourth down because he knew that they
wouldn't be able to consistently stop the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They worked out in their favor. The Lion's team that
you know, is high powered. You have to be willing
to go for it. But as we said, playing with
house money, the freedom that the commanders have in this game, man,
(37:17):
it's a lot different when you can take your shot
and you don't feel the weight of responsibility to have
to win that falls on the shoulders of the Lions,
and so That's why the conservativeness, the conservative nature of
the play calls on both sides. That's what I'm looking
to see. Do the Lions change their blueprint now they're
win the stuff that matters?
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Yeah? And also human nature, And we talked about Aaron
Glenn earlier in the show. But when you've got both
coordinators who've got a lot of opportunities and a lot
of attention.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Some distractions. There's some distractions. I don't care what anyone says.
It's hard to stay locked in on that.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
It's hard not to think about the next opportunity, even
though you've worked so hard to get here.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
It's human nature. Can you stay locked in and focused.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
And compartmentalize what is going on to be able to
give you the lines the best version of yourself?
Speaker 1 (38:06):
The Rams Eagles, buck.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Man, you know, and.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
Look DJ, I know the Eagles were okay and they
may have wanted the Rams to come, but I'm gonna
say this man in the playoffs, quarterback play is everything.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
And the one.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Quarterback that I don't know if you necessarily want to
face is Matthew Staff going all the way back to
his time in Detroit. This dude has a knack for
delivering and the biggest moments. You look at his history,
game winning drives, fourth quarter comebacks. He's there. This is
a major stage, and let's be honest, like some of
(38:42):
the mojio and energy that they played with against the
Vikings that to carry on.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
They're not as talented as the Eagles. But if the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Mess around and allow the Rams to hang around, the
Rams can do it. And I say that full well
knowing that the Eagles smacked them around the first time
they faced this.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
All this season.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Yeah, I'm looking at the Rams super Bowl year. They
were Arizona at home, indoors at Tampa, not gonna deal
with much of their weatherwise at home against San Francisco,
and a Super Bowl at home against Cincinnati. It's just
a different environment. When you're going to Philadelphia, it's gonna
be but I think it's gonna be such that's a
little different. It's a little different. And I just think
(39:24):
with Sa Kwan and that offensive line that I mean,
we saw it. They squared off earlier and the Eagles
ran the ball down their throats.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
Well, and they're going to look to do it again.
Let's get distracted.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
If they commit to running the ball and they play
the physical brand of football that they have started to
embrace and play. Yeah, it's gonna be a hard one
for the Rams. Is to me, the thing that holds
the Eagles back would only be the emotional maturity.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
The mature enough to take your business. That's the big thing.
Speaker 3 (39:56):
Like, can they worry about just winning the game and
not about a my numbers, my touches in those things.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
If they do that, then then they should be able
to win.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Yeah, it'll be a interesting game, but it's not gonna
be as fun to watch as this next one. The
last one is the heavyweight matchup. It is the Bills
and the Ravens. And I can't think of a playoff
game that wasn't even a conference championship game that I've
looked forward to more than this one.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
Man, it is such a great game.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
And I'm gonna say this, DJ goes all the way
back to twenty eighteen in the draft because I feel
like both of those guys doing the draft process didn't
get their due in terms of what they could be.
We didn't have the imagination in the league to be
able to really appreciate what they were because they were
both in a way non traditional quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson more
(40:40):
so than Josh Allen, but Josh Allen didn't have the
completion rate that you normally desire in a top pick.
Josh Allen ran around, but he didn't run around to
the level that Lamar Jackson was running around. And to
see them now become top five quarterbacks in this league
where it's unquestioned that they're elite, to see them square off,
to me is fascinating. On the Baltimore side, I just
(41:02):
want to see if the Ravens are going to be
the Ravens. I felt like last year in the AFC
Championship game they got away from the blueprint that really
worked for them. But if they play to their strengths
and just do what they've done, run the football, do
some of that stuff, and don't get distracted by trying
to prove to people they can play a different style,
they're better than the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen is a
(41:24):
superhero and we have seen him put this offense in
this team on the back and then these gotta have
it moments that we talked about, third down, red zone,
two minute in the half, he is going to make
a play with his legs if he has to, can
the Baltimore Ravens get him down? Because he is a
more athletic version of the Ben Roethlisberger that they used
(41:45):
to face, and you would talk about tackling and being
able to get him. Now the key is can they
get number seventeen on the ground.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
Yeah, Well, it's gonna be such a fun game. Man.
I don't know where that game's going to go. If
you told me that either one of those teams blew
the other team out, I don't know that. I'd be
shocked because they're both capable. If you told me this
was an overtime thriller, I could see that happen. It
could be a high scoring game. It could be a
low score. I don't know. I don't know what's going
to happen in this So that's why it's so intriguing
(42:12):
to me.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
Man.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
But this there might be the two most fun quarterbacks
to watch in the NFL, and they're going to be
going at it throwing Haymaker. It's gonna be fun.
Speaker 2 (42:21):
DJ.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
There'll only be three quarterbacks in NFL history that have
scored forty plus touchdowns, rush for more than five hundred yards,
and had fewer than seven interceptions Josh Allen and Lamar
Jackson twice Josh Allen Lamar Jackson this year and then
Lamar Jackson back.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
In twenty nineteen. Like, think about that.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
That is ridiculous what they've been able to do in
the National Football League. These dudes are specially their unicorns,
and I am just glad that we will have an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (42:51):
We won't fully give either one of those guys their flowers,
but we'll.
Speaker 3 (42:54):
Have an opportunity to see what could be when you
take a chance on guys to have elite traits even
though their games.
Speaker 2 (43:01):
May be a little unorthodox.
Speaker 1 (43:03):
Yeah, think about the three of the four teams that
are remaining in the AFC or Andy Reid, you know,
Andy Reid and two of his disciples and Harbara McDermott
going at it in this game. So there's familiarity of
how they want to play, who they are as people,
what they want to do. These guys have had longevity
in their stops. So it's gonna be a great game
(43:23):
and I'm looking forward to I'm going to hitch you
up for a winner on these buck I've already posted
mine on there. I ended up with I.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Ended up with Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (43:31):
I ended up with Chiefs, Lions, Eagles, Bills. So I
ended up going home team, straight down, straight down the line.
Speaker 3 (43:39):
The only change that we have is I had the
Ravens over the Buffalo Bills. Everything it says to me,
DJ the Ravens over the Bills. It literally comes down
to if the Ravens play, if they play to their identity,
they have more talent, and so because they have more talent,
they had the opportunity to score more. This might be
(44:01):
the game, in my mind where Buffalo feels the lack
of an elite playmaker on the perimeter. That's the only
reason why I would give the Ravens not I don't
think it's gonna be the blowout that we saw earlier.
Speaker 2 (44:12):
This is gonna be a fourth quarter fair and one
of those quarterbacks they have the big play to win it.
Speaker 1 (44:17):
Yeah. Man, it's just it's hard to believe that this
league allowed Derrick Henry to team up with Lamar Jackson,
and they.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
Said, is that.
Speaker 3 (44:24):
I mean, like, of all the things, and like, let's
just say this, the Ravens do not mind taking I
know the Titans aren't the ribble that they once were,
but they sure don't mind stealing people from de ryals
don't like they sure don't.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
I mean, if you're gonna let them go to say hey,
we'll we'll take them.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
I just I just I just think about the Kansas
City Chiefs and some of the wars they've had in
the playoffs, you know, and in games against Derrick Henry
and the Titans, and they've had wars against the Ravens
and Lamar Jackson, and both of those teams struggle to
take down the Chiefs, and it's almost like, hey, let's
team up, man, let's let's join up. Let's join forces
and see if together we can't topple this. Not in
(45:00):
Kansas City, So they got to get through Buffalo first, though.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Man, it's gonna be a tough one. It's gonna be tough,
but it's gonna be a great one to see. And
I can't wait for us to talk about it when
we come back.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Yep, looking forward to it. All right, This is a
beefy episode. Hope you guys enjoyed it. It really is
the best time of the year. Cannot wait for these ballgames.
We will have all the reaction that'll be coming your
way next week. As we continue to break down what's
happening in the coaching side of things as well and
start dipping our toe in the draft waters as well.
So hope you guys enjoyed this one. We'll see you
(45:29):
next time right here on, move the sticks.
Hosts And Creators
Daniel Jeremiah
Bucky Brooks
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