August 14, 2025 • 32 mins
On the latest episode of Move the Sticks, Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks kick off the show with a debate over whether teams should play their starters in preseason games and how much that decision impacts getting off to a fast start when the regular season kicks off. From there, they shift focus to the young talent on the rise, breaking down the second-year wide receivers they’re most excited to watch and analyzing who could make a breakout impact in year two. Finally, they close out the episode by examining the league’s top defensive fronts, discussing which units are most dominant, how they’re built, and the challenges they pose for opposing offenses.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
What's up everybody? Welcome to move the stacks? DJ, buck
with you. Fuck? What's going on? Man?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Man? Not too much? DJ. You know how it is.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
We're already in the thick of it. This weekend, go
to New Orleans. It's got a Sunday Sunday game where
you at this week.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
It's a home road game, so it's at the RAMS,
same building. I move over two stalls. Let MJD have
the palace.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
You know.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
We just kind of sneak down a couple boosts down
there to the left, so we'll be it so far.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
That's cool. Yeah, So that's it.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Man, It's crazy, right because the preseason is It was
funny I was doing they were talking about like the
dog days of training camp, and I was like, but
do we really have dog days? I mean, are really
in the dog days? I mean, I know we're kind
of at that point, but I don't know. I'm still
trying to figure out like the rhythm of the three
game pre season. Yeah, when it feels weird, it feels
(00:56):
like it's short.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, when you.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Play your starters, window, don't you play starters like, how
do we treat preseason game number three?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Is it live? Is it not?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
There's a long time between preseason game three and the
regular season, so I think everyone is figuring it out.
And I said, just because someone asked me this, Like DJ,
if you were in charge of a team and you
see the charges and how they go about it, are
you more in line with Hey, I'm gonna play my
guys and ramp up to the regular season, or are
you more I want to get to the starting line
(01:27):
with everybody available, so hey, we whatever it looks like
in the preseason, young guys can have it, But my
starters aren't touching the field.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I am a joint practice guy, like give me, give me,
give me. I like, I'd like to do it with
two different teams just to get some high speed reps
where I can protect my quarterback. And uh, and I
ain't playing them a snap in the preseason, no chance,
like like any of those guys like I just don't.
It's just I don't you want to. You just want
to get all out the starting line.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Man.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
You don't want the season to be over before it starts.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So I am with you on that.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
But then, but the only thing that I put out
there is when you make that So you make that decision,
how do you ensure that your team gets off to
a fast start. So, for instance, the Cincinnati Bengers have
been what two and five or six seasons as zach
Taala's been there, Like what is the counter to get
your team clicking and going?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
You know?
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yeah, I mean I would always hoping that you can
just get that those full speed reps with you know,
with joint practices and that you know, maybe you know,
a quarter of real speed football is not going to
be that much different, you know, in terms of the preparation,
Like is really is that one quarter that you're playing
your guy is going to be the difference to get
you ready to go week one?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
I think I think everybody's got to know their team too,
but uh yeah, that's kind of I think the joint
practice kind of solved that. In the past, if you
didn't have joint practice, like yeah, you got to get
in some full speed work, you know, just so you
can get yourself acclimated, get up to being you're ready
to go. But I thought the joint practice kind of
eliminated the need for that.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Okay, So here's the thing, and hopefully I'm not sharing
insider secrets, but so the Jags were trying to get
the joint practices but couldn't get them.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
There's something conflict on days whatever.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
So they have one set with the Miami Dolphins next week,
but it didn't have one this week.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
So it's funny because they're playing New Orleans.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
New Orleans is having a joint practice I think today
against the Rams, So the Jags are having a scrimmage,
like a scrimmage with themselves, trying to kind of get
that work that forced to be work that you would
get without having to joint practice. I just man, I
just wonder can you get it done internally having in
(03:38):
essence like a couple of till and white scrimmages preseason
games and not really exposing your guys to the thing
I am with you, you don't have a shot if
you don't have you guys, no matter what we can
say at all, if your a guys are out, you
don't have a shot. You at least want to get
to the starting line with your guys and if they
(03:59):
get in the season, that's one thing. But you would
like to get to the regular season with your people
ready to go.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, I think i'd I think it would be easier
for me to deal with maybe losing a game or
two early in the season and being like a, you know,
maybe we could have done more. I think I'd be
okay with that versus man, we went hard, but we
were missing two guys for the start of the season, Like,
that's the worst option to me.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I'm with you on that. I mean, I think there's
there's a lot of truth too. Hey, we want to
get them there, but I want to get to start
in line with my A team.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And if my A team is.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Not good enough, that's cool, but I would like to
at least see what it looks like the first two
or three weeks when we have our guys.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah. I do like the idea of kind of ramping up,
you know, as you're going through training camp and like
unlike you know, like say, like the Dodgers' bullpen. You
want to finish strong. You want to be able to
finish strong in the rolling By the way, By the way,
my neck is bothering me because I keep looking down
at the Dodgers in the standings and I just it
just it.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Just finally took place.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
But as we all know, like none of it matters
until we get this up Timber in October, so.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
We thought, But it does feel good, man, it does
feel good.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (05:06):
I realized by the way the last baseball conversation here,
last take they had the Potterys haven't won the division
since two thousand and six. Two thousand and six, buck.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Well, how confident are you going that's gonna win it?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Now? That win it?
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I feel good. We had better seeing the Dodger But
I just I couldn't believe that two thousand and six.
I was working with the Ravens in two thousand and six,
A million years ago. I was watching Steve McNair sling
the ball around with Todd Heap too.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
What I mean, I mean for a while, I mean
it was it was it was Giants.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Dodgers have been of late.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Dodgers have won eleven of the last twelve divisions, Like
that's not been anybody else. The Giants lucked into one
year and that was it.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
I didn't didn't Diamondbacks win one too? Did they?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Did?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
They give them that?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
They they've beat him in the playoffs. Everybody beats the
Dodgers in the playoffs. But I mean, like just in
terms of like the regular season stuff, so.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I know you can relate to this.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I'm actually okay with it because it reminds me of
the Brave. You always got it to win it, you
gotta at least be in it, and so we guaranteed
it be in it. That always gives you a chance.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
But then like the San Francisco Giants would get in,
like just win the World Series three times, and like
they only make the playoffs three times, but every time
they got in, they would win the win the World
Series during those like the Miami Marlins, the same thing.
I just want one, that's all. I'm not greedy. I
get one. I will never hear me talking about baseball
ever again, because.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Once you give one, you want another. Like there's no,
there's no like the Cubs fans that were like, oh,
we just want to win this and that's it. No,
once you get a taste of it, like you always
want to go back to the will.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
To be fair, I don't know how I would act,
because I don't have any experience.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
You'd be in, you.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Suffering.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So I listened to the Dodgers postgame talk show Dodger
Talk what's on Money Station on five seventy only after
they lose games, because I just like I revel in it.
So I want to text I want to X thread
with Money and petros uh and Tim Kates, who does
a lot of the postgame shows, And so I texted
him during the Dodger game last night and I this
(07:09):
is like the seventh inning and Dodgers in winning at
this time, I said, I'm so torn right now. Yes,
I'd love to see the Dodgers blow another game. I
just don't think I can stay up for another Dodger Talk.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I need to sleep.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
And then uh, and then the Dodgers blew the game
once again, and I wrote, I'll sleep tomorrow Dodger Talk.
Let's ride, all right. I want to hit on some
some second year wide receivers. Buck. We're gonna get to
some defensive topics here in a minute, but I want
to start this thing off football wise on second year whiteouts,
because that that that group we loved them up in
(07:42):
the in the draft process last year. And I think
there's a lot of interesting guys in this mix. So
I'm gonna kind of give you some names here of
some players, and then I want to get you know,
anything that stood out to you or what you've seen
talking to guys, what you've seen in a little bit
of preseason. But you got Marvin Harrison, Molak, Neighbors, Roama doing, say,
Brian Thomas Junior, Xavier Worthy. Then it was Pearce All Lagette,
(08:04):
Keon Coleman, Lad McConkie, Jalen polk Adnai Mitchell, Like, that's
going down a couple more here, Malachi Corley's your main,
Burton Roman Wilson's that's a good chunk of guys there.
So well, those second year players, I've got a couple
notes on a couple guys, but I didn't know if
there was anybody that stood out to you that you're
looking forward to seeing this year.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Well, look, man, I'm gonna say this because Marvin Harrison
Junior to me is intriguing just.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Because did j add.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
People don't talk about him like you had a lot
of conversations about Malikueighbors, a lot of conversation about Brian
Thomas Junior. Even Romadonza has gone at some conversation, but it.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Is relatively quiet.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Around the desert when it comes to Marvin Harrison Junior.
Now visually physically, he looks like a different animal. He's
bucked up a little bit, he's done those things or whatever.
But I want to see if he can hold it
down like we expected him to hold it down. You know,
there's some concerns, like people talk about the speed, the
burst and all that. Didn't do any of the testing
(09:03):
and those things. And the season was solid. It was okay,
but it wasn't quite what you expected given the fanfare
that surrounds him for so much of his career at
Ohio State. I want to see how they maximize this talent,
how they kind of meet him where he's at so
that if he isn't going to be one of those
(09:23):
transcending stars like Elaro Fitzgerald, how can they get the
production to validate where they picked him in the draft.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Yeah. I watched a little bit of their game, their
preseason game, went through and watched the tape on thats
Bucky just kind of looks like a big slot.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
And I don't.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
I mean, I'm still hopeful he's going to be productive.
I think, to me, you got to change your expectations
a little bit. I don't think he's going to be
you know, like his dad was catching a hundred bazillion
balls a year. I think you're going to you're going
to measure his impact with touchdowns and then maybe some
some third down stuff with just his size as someone
who works in the middle of the field. But I
don't want to use the word. It's uzer is like
(10:02):
the low end of it. And then if you're gonna
be complimentary, you'd say cruiser, So like an ouzer cruiser
type versus just I don't I don't feel him. I
don't feel his juicer speed at all.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Okay, So if this point us out, if.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Marvin Harrison Junior had a career that was comparable at
the Marcus Couston, how would you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Because when you talk about big slock good, it's a
really good.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Player, but not worth you know, picking as the second
overall pick or whatever.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
He was, Yeah, and and and so, like Marcus Couston
was kind of like the giant slot receiver, kind of
made it in vogue to put him as the number three.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
He could do some stuff called a ton of balls.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Yeah, he had no walk, so Michael Thomas could run basically, I.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Mean basically yeah, I mean like that's that's kind of
what it is now you hope that Marvin Harrison Junior
can do maybe more than Michael Thomas thing. But right
now he's kind of picked in that that role. Larry
fiz Generald jumped in the role at the end of
his career, and so it's just a hard it's a
hard hustle right now for Marvin Harrison Junior. He cares
(11:08):
the weight of the name on his back. But right
now the game hasn't necessarily lived up to some of
the hype that proceeded as a rocker.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Well, I think you're hoping you're just gonna get double
digit touchdowns, like he's gonna, you know, be that size
resome weapon.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Some things move the chains. Maybe maybe he can become
a Chris Carter type. Maybe he can do some things
that you can find a way to do it. But
right now, one on one, on the outside, it looks
like it's a bit of a struggle consistently for him
to win against the premier guys on the perimid.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Yeah, that's why I'm curious to see what it looks
like once we get to the regular season and all that.
The Uh, there's a whole launderlist. I gave you a
bunch of guys there. Roma Dunze is one that I'm
really excited about to see what's the next step for him.
I think, to me, just get more opportunities and getting
more accurate balls, you know, hopefully that's something to come
in his way. With Caleb taking a step forward, Ben
Johnson the year, but I think he's going to be
(12:01):
really solid. There's a couple down the line, guys. I
wanted to hit on ad Mitchell. I think we might
have referenced him the other day, but ad Ni Mitchell
has had a really good camp by all accounts. Go
back and watch the preseason game. You see him win
on a comeback, You see him win on a dig.
This is just not somebody who with his speed you
know he can run, is not just going to be
a vertical player. He's got the He's got the capabilities
(12:23):
of being a full rout tree guy and an impact player.
And I will see what the quarterback position looks like
for the Colts. But I was I liked what I
saw and I like what I've heard on ad Mitchell.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Yeah, I think he has a better chance of being
an impact player if Danny Dimes Daniel Jones is the quarterback.
Just because of Dan Danews's ability to stick in the pocket,
hang and go through the progressions. I think it's easy
for Shane Stiching to make sure that ad Mitchell is
heavily involved in the game plan. What we loved about
him when he was coming out is to speed, this explosedness,
the burst what he could do and as a compliment
(12:55):
to what they have in Michael Pittman and Josh Downs,
there are a lot of balls that can hit in
his direction. You just got to make sure that the
quarter quarterback play a solid That's the number one question
for the goals. Can they get enough production and quality
performance from the quarterback to be able to tap into
all the weapons that they have because offenously, they do
(13:15):
have enough weapons to be able to compete with the
high end talent teams in.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
The league, no question. Last year, Lad McConkie had a
huge year for the Chargers. Monster year was really looking
like he could end up being a top five type
receiver in the NFL. Like that type of crazy production
in his future. Now Keenan Allen gets signed and I
saw makonkiy at a quote the other day where he
was like, people are saying, how is this going to
work with Keenan because they think I'm a slot only
(13:41):
guy that they not watched me last year. Like I
play outside, I play, I play anywhere. So I don't
know that that's going to heavily impact the amount of targets.
I think. I still think that passing game is going
to go through lad McConkie.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
And I think what Keenan is is he's the old
trustee vet, kind of like the old shoes that you
like to put on around the house every now and in,
where Justin Hurpey can go to him in some situations,
but not all situations. Lad mccacky certainly has earned the
trust of not only the quarterback but of the coaching staff.
To me, he is still wide receiver one no matter
who they bring in, what they've done, His quickness, his
(14:18):
ability to separate, his versatility makes them dangerous. And in
a run heavy offense where he's insured of getting one
on one coverage, he's gonna wear people out on the permit.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Now one more I wanted to hit you on I
don't know where. I don't know if this guy's gonna
be active on game day just because it's a numbers game.
But I did like what I saw in the first
preseason game from Roman Wilson. Roman Wilson played fast, He
looked fast. He got them ball a little bit down
the field. But then to me, it's a quick hitters.
Get the ball in his hands. Let that speed play.
(14:49):
And to me, Aaron Rodgers, there's like a Aaron Rodgers
a quarterback at this point in time where there's a
shot clock. To me, I could you can almost watch
it and say, Okay, if he holds the ball beyond
this time, no bueno. He's going to take sacks. There's
going to be some concern about putting the ball maybe
in jeopardy. I think that he's at his best, especially
at this age when he is on time, in rhythm,
(15:09):
back foot gone, and I think Roman Wilson and if
they can find a role for him, they just got
so many they got a numbers game that they got
to work with here with Robert Woods and DK and
and all the other guys that they've got the in
the mix there, it's like Scottie Miller's is someone there.
So I don't know, I don't know how they fit
him in, But I liked what I saw from him
in a preseason game.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Well, I think he definitely fits in.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
And I would say and watching pregame one ups now,
ay rot Rodgers was working with DK primarily, but you
can see all these guys work out. And what I
will say is when you look at Roan Wilson, his
stop star quickness, his route runability, all the savvy that
he just played in Michigan was on full display during
(15:52):
that game. Pregame and during the game. I think there's
a role for him. I just think of Pittsburgh and
how successful that they've been traditionally finding those receivers on
day two. I think he's the next one that's gonna
be a solid starter. He's a nice compliment the DK metcalf.
It's literally how do they find a role with him?
And do they have to make a hard decision in
(16:14):
terms of Robert Woods or Ruman.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Wilson, Like, how do they go about that?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
But it comes down to trust, And I think the
more that he plays and performs at a high level
doing the preseason, the more likely he is he will
be to earn the trust of the coaches and the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
All Right, if I if I told you not and
I'm not gonna get you in trouble with the Jacks here.
But Brian Thomas Junior is awesome as he was last
year and what we see with him going forward. If
I told you you had to go play a game
tomorrow and I gave you your choice of the two
LSU receivers, between Elak Neighbors and Brian Thomas Junior, who
you're rolling with. M I got a fan. I got
(16:53):
a fantasy football draft coming up, buck. I think I
pick six or seven something like that. I'm gonna take
it one of the guys.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, that's a tough one. Now, I go back to
my original conversation. Cortez Hankton from LSU had talked about
both of those guys, and he talked about Elite Neighbors
is the dog, but Brian Thomas Junior is the more
talented and gifted playmaker. And I would say being around him,
I think he exhibits dog quality, but it's just in.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
A quiet package. So I'm I'm gonna go with him
over Neighbors.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
And I know Davis is an absolute animal on the thing,
but there is something to watching Brian Thomas Jr. And
I go back to I was watching, so I was
on the sideline. I don't know if it's Cleveland Gamers one,
did you. I know we've all been in games where
you see the ball go up and the receivers trying
to track it down.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
You're like, there's no way, and then.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
You look up and they hit another gear. Brian Thomas
Junior has that extra gear to go get the deep
ball that's hard to find. It's rare to find in
a playmaker, and he might be one of the unique
guys that is a true number one receiver but also
has big play potential. I'm rocking with him because there
(18:05):
can be a lot of things that we see from
this offense that reminds people of twenty eighteen twenty nineteen
La Rams.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
When Robert Woods and Brandon.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Cooks and Cup and all those guys were kind of
getting busy doing a bunch of different creative things on
play action across the mid little field.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
You know what's nuts. I was looking at from last
year receiving yardage leaders. Last year, Jamar Chase was one,
Justin Jefferson was two, Brian Thomas was three, Jerry Judy
or sorry, Milik Neighbors was seven. Four of the top seven,
including the top three all LSU receivers, and I think
Melik Neighbors could easily get up there in that top four.
(18:42):
You could have a situation where the top four receivers
are all LSU receivers and they could be followed by
the two USC receivers. And I'm and Russaint Brown and
Drake London like that could be the top six receivers
in the NFL could come from two schools. That's nuts.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
That is nuts.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
And I got a netty conversation for you. I think
you know you know Jerry Sullivan, Wyon coach, dad of
John Eric Sullivan, great personnel guy with the Green Bay package. Anyway,
we were in the airport together a couple of weeks ago.
He was heading out to go actually work with Larry
Fitzgerald's son. He was going to training them out in
San Diego. All those guys going to Notre Dame. Notre Dame,
but then's the home of the former NFL players. So anyway,
(19:21):
Jerry and I talk and he man, I never forget
like he gave me a hard time because I didn't
rank Justin Jefferson high up when he was coming out.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
So anyway, he was doing a comparison.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
I think this is good for us when we talk
about wide receivers, he was saying, and coaching Jamaar Chase
and Justin Jefferson. He said, it's such an interesting thing
that you're going to have two guys who are highly
productive to be so different stylistically. And Justin Jefferson he
talked about despite being a two star recruit and all
that he's like Buck, this dude is a competitive dog,
(19:52):
a competitive maniac. But his route running, how clean he is,
all that stuff is lewd, he said. And Jamaar Chase,
it will never look as clean as Justin Jefferson. But
he said, you have to remember he is a running
back on the power, and he said that if you
keep that in mind and know that it's not stylistically
(20:16):
what you always wanted a perimeter, but when the ball
is in his hands, it is a completely different thing.
And when I look at those guys, and you do
look at the physical differences, it's just amazing to me
that we are in time in the National Football League
when these guys come in different sizes and shapes and flavors,
but yet they still can put up to kind of
(20:36):
numbers that are extraordinary no matter how you play, no
matter how your style is.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
All right, that's going to leave me. As we wrap
up this discussion here to my scouting term of the
week here. I always love talking to different people in
different sports and then taking different terminology and applying it.
And this is one that I've just heard a lot.
I've heard a lot this year. I've heard it from
baseball guys. I've also heard heard it from from some
football buddies, but I've never used it in a report.
(21:05):
And man, I just I think there's something to it,
and it might have been less Need was talking about
this a little bit, Jason Light was talking about this
a little bit, uh, and then some baseball GM buddies
I was talking to used the same So I'm like, man,
there's something to this. Everybody's talking about this, but they
use the term care factor. H I was like, you
know what, I like that. I like that phrasing of it,
(21:25):
like oh, he loves football, you know, blah blah blah.
And they said, no, No, this is a like this guy.
This guy cares. It's important to him, and that's that's
reflected in the time that he spends. That's his focus
that's his focus in practice as well as in his training.
Like there's just a care factor there. And uh, I
thought that was interesting just the way you describe in
(21:46):
those receivers different skill sets, but there's a high care
factor for both those guys.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
You know, it's funny because that appears to be the
thing that has really jumped into the scouting process to
last year or so, people really wanted to dive into.
Do play really love ball? And then the other part
of it is can you create an environment where.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
That is what it is. It's about the ball.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
It's about loving ball and not about all the other
stuff that can impact the player, like building a brand
or all these other things that can take you away
from the main thing being the main thing. And maybe
it's just being around the rams of late like we
were last week, being able to see them in joint
(22:30):
preduce where you know, it is really an environment about
ball and being around Mike Tomlin and the Steelers and
watching them where they talk about hey man, it's pretty simple, man,
It's about effort and toughness and do you love ball
and the relationships that come from people who love ball
being together.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
To me, DJ, that's the secret sauce.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
And that's really the separating factor between why some guys
make it and why some don't is do you love
it enough to do whatever it is you need to
do to maximize everything that you have on the inside
that comes from the love of the game that doesn't
come from anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Yeah, again, you hate to miss on any player, but
might it would be extra painful if you miss on
a guy because he simply doesn't possess that you know,
he doesn't have that care. That would be That'd be
a hard one to swallow. And that's where personnel departments,
I think have gotten better of saying, hey, we you know,
the talent is the talent, I don't know. That's the
hardest part of scouting. It's the other stuff where you're
investing more your time, oh.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
One hundred percent, and is being able to get around
the person. That's being able to get around multiple people
that are close to the person to paint the four picture.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
And it might be harder to do.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Now, but the area scout has to do some deep
digging to really understand the player and the relationships that
you make. And I don't think you've ever been to
a progaate with me down at LSU. But that's the relationships.
I just remember going down to LSU so many times
and being able to talk to those young players, and
the young players could give you information on the old players.
(24:05):
And you know, Jamal Adams and I had a special
relationship and he could give me the thumbs up and
thumbs down on players because like, you're also whatever he
was and whatever he became as a pro. They do
love ball the one point, I mean loved it, lived,
it couldn't stop. And man, I just think it's hard
for those guys to feel and if I'm a fill
(24:25):
on a pick, I at least want to fail on
a pick where I feel like, man, this dude is
doing everything in his power to make it happen. The
guys who don't care about it, those are the ones
that are frustrated.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
They have no question. All right, quick break, we'll come back.
We're going to talk some defense right after this. All right, Buck,
you're talking about some of the top defensive fronts in
the NFL. Here fill me in.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Okay, So I'm doing this project that's going to be
on the notebook this week and check it out on
NFL dot com. We were talking about the top defensive fronts.
And it came off of conversation with Baldy where Baldy
had a chance to see Abduel Carter in the preseason
and Abdu Carter does what abdu Carter does and he
dominated back and shop. So then you start thinking about
the Giants and what the Giants potentially could try it out,
(25:14):
and Afourse him upfront, Dexter Carter on the inside, you
got Kevon Tipoda, O'Brian Burns and Abdu Carter and a
Mirdor role is just kind of wrecking shop. So you man,
you know what's funny about the Giants is whenever the
Giants have had a Super Bowl team, they've always had
that kind of group up front. Justin Tuck and MATHIASKI
(25:34):
Manuka os you me and you're Michael Strahan even back
in the day, Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor and Leonard Marshall.
So he let me say, man, like, who is some
of the top defensive front So I got the Giants
in the mix because I'm looking at what they can do.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Like, oh man, they don't.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
They're not many people that have an inside pass rusher
and Dexter Lawrence who can get you nine sacks and
then these speed demons on the outside. But then I
went to Minnesota and I'm looking at the new and
improved Minnesota where you have Harrison Phillips on the inside,
but they go and get a giantthan Allan. They get
Javon Hargrave to go what they already had, and Jonathan
(26:13):
Grenard and Andrew.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Liked, that's a lot of sack production.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
And Brian Floyd is dealing up pressures to make sure
they get one on ones. And finally I'm looking at
the Houston Texans who found a way to get Will Anderson,
you get the Neil Hunter. I mean, just those two
alone makes it formidable, and then you got some big
guys inside it.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Look. We talked about this.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Being a passing league and how the premium positions are
always the passers, the pass rushers, the protectors, and the playmakers. Man,
if you don't have pass rushers at multiple spots on
the team, you have no shot of being able to
win at the highest level.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Yeah, essentially you bring up those teams because Houston, of
all the teams I saw in person last year, you know,
doing the Charger games. To me, I always talk about
like can you do you feel it? Like if you're
talking about receivers, talking about Marvin Harrison, can you feel
it Speed Houston? You felt their front buck like it?
They are up, they are up the field. It is
attack all day long. And that's the problem. You know,
(27:14):
Denico Autry's in that mix as well, so they that
group now that, I have no problem whatsoever saying I
would put that group right, if not at the very top,
then right near the very top. I don't know if
anybody else, I would take over that front the other
group I would add off the top of my head.
I think Pittsburgh's got a chance, not only with talent,
but with depth. They've got a lot of waves of
(27:35):
guys they can throw at you.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Oh I mean, look, you got t J.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Watt, who's always in play for defensive Play of the Year.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
T J.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Watt, Cam Heyward is the vet the Stallwarts. But you've
got a whole bunch of other guys in there.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Man, Like they have done a really good job of
like fortifying those guys, and you think about what Derek
Carmon can do when they get back. Yeah, I've got
a bunch of right, because we know multiple people in
those buildings and what they're looking for.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
DJ.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
There is a toughness and an edginess that those guys
have that keep the Pittsburgh Steel is in play for sure.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Yeah. And then again it's like I think you kind
of have the high end talent guys and the wave
teams that Eagles have a good mix. You know, when
Jalen Carter's on his game and rolling and then they
just got waves, waves to throw out in.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Young athletic ways. You know.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
The funny thing is when you go back and you
look at their depth chart, Jalen Carter is kind of
like the crown jewel, and then you have a bunch
of just like good players.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
They got a bunch of bees.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Who's the next notable name? Who's the next one that
we're gonna tell from their group?
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (28:43):
What about Denver? What about Denver Buck? Did they not
get close in your thinking? They're Zach Allen? How about this?
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Like, I just think you're a good group, man, man,
really good group. But how about DJ? What people might
have thought about him coming out and what he's become,
you know what I mean? Like, it's just the league
is so funny because it takes the right spot the
right scheme, the right environment, and man, guys can just
completely blow up.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
He's a terrific player too.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
You're right, Yeah, well there's there's some good options to
choose from there. I just again from just being in
that building. And maybe it was the fact it was
the playoffs. It was loud, but I mean that they
got fucked. They got off the rock man like.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
I mean, it's so they're fast.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
And I will say this, I think Dimico Ryans is
underrated in terms of like he has some of that
dog to him. I think people get fooled by the
nice guy persona and how he comes off, but he
has a way of kind of cracking the whip and
getting those guys going because they they do play at
a frenetic pace, particularly at home.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Yeah, I don't know. I don't know if if Matt
Burke has ever interviewed for a head coaching job, I
don't think I've seen that is a I think you
went to Dartmouth. He's been around a lot of good
coaches and they have a dominant group there. Maybe he's
a name that gets circulated here in this next coaching cycle,
(30:06):
but they had a good defense not to mention you
go to the back end and the pieces they have
in the secondary cried aren't good too.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Man.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
You talked about it, DJ. That gives you a chance.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
So when everyone is him and all and ready to
try and find somebody else in the South, I was like,
you can't put anybody over to Texas until you find
someone that can deal with that defense. Yeah, and the
quarterback on the bounce back.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Mm hmm, I'm with you on that, all right, Buck,
did you do anything on the what else did you
have going on? Man?
Speaker 3 (30:31):
Now that's it, Like, I'll get to the secondary. You
already mentioned some of those guys in the secondary. You
talk about Houston Pittsburgh is gonna be the conversation you
have they have. The Denver Broncos have to be in
that conversation. Like just thinking about the rich getting Richard
de Baron joining a group that has passer ten already
in the mix, and they got some playmakers all around.
I mean the Eagles and what they're doing with that
(30:52):
young crew.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
It's crazy.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
They give rid of chesa gardener Johnson, but they may
not skip a when it comes to how they play
in the backside.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Yeah, it's kind of interesting that the Eagles have some stars,
you know, some individual stars. Man. They they whipping people
with depth.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Man.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
They just got a lot of dudes. They can play everywhere,
just overwhelm you.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
And basketball has done this where we saw like the
strengthen numbers, we saw how the Pacers were able to
get to Oklahoma City. There's something to being able to
We talked about what a bunch of bees. Yeah, but
if I if I had ten bees and you only
have one or two a's, I'm.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Wearing you out. I wear you down in time.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
There's there's a.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Lot to that.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Yeah, no question. All right, this has been a good
one man. Looking forward to getting out to some preseason
games this weekend. We got college football right around the
corner as well, so maybe jump into that a little
bit next week, but we'll be back to recap everything
we see on the preseason front. See some of these
young quarterbacks as well. While we rying those guys, I
appreciate you. See next time right here on, Move the sticks.
And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
What's up everybody? Welcome to move the stacks? DJ, buck
with you. Fuck? What's going on? Man?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Man? Not too much? DJ. You know how it is.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
We're already in the thick of it. This weekend, go
to New Orleans. It's got a Sunday Sunday game where
you at this week.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
It's a home road game, so it's at the RAMS,
same building. I move over two stalls. Let MJD have
the palace.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
You know.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
We just kind of sneak down a couple boosts down
there to the left, so we'll be it so far.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
That's cool. Yeah, So that's it.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Man, It's crazy, right because the preseason is It was
funny I was doing they were talking about like the
dog days of training camp, and I was like, but
do we really have dog days? I mean, are really
in the dog days? I mean, I know we're kind
of at that point, but I don't know. I'm still
trying to figure out like the rhythm of the three
game pre season. Yeah, when it feels weird, it feels
(00:56):
like it's short.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, when you.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Play your starters, window, don't you play starters like, how
do we treat preseason game number three?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Is it live? Is it not?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
There's a long time between preseason game three and the
regular season, so I think everyone is figuring it out.
And I said, just because someone asked me this, Like DJ,
if you were in charge of a team and you
see the charges and how they go about it, are
you more in line with Hey, I'm gonna play my
guys and ramp up to the regular season, or are
you more I want to get to the starting line
(01:27):
with everybody available, so hey, we whatever it looks like
in the preseason, young guys can have it, But my
starters aren't touching the field.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I am a joint practice guy, like give me, give me,
give me. I like, I'd like to do it with
two different teams just to get some high speed reps
where I can protect my quarterback. And uh, and I
ain't playing them a snap in the preseason, no chance,
like like any of those guys like I just don't.
It's just I don't you want to. You just want
to get all out the starting line.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Man.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
You don't want the season to be over before it starts.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So I am with you on that.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
But then, but the only thing that I put out
there is when you make that So you make that decision,
how do you ensure that your team gets off to
a fast start. So, for instance, the Cincinnati Bengers have
been what two and five or six seasons as zach
Taala's been there, Like what is the counter to get
your team clicking and going?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
You know?
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yeah, I mean I would always hoping that you can
just get that those full speed reps with you know,
with joint practices and that you know, maybe you know,
a quarter of real speed football is not going to
be that much different, you know, in terms of the preparation,
Like is really is that one quarter that you're playing
your guy is going to be the difference to get
you ready to go week one?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
I think I think everybody's got to know their team too,
but uh yeah, that's kind of I think the joint
practice kind of solved that. In the past, if you
didn't have joint practice, like yeah, you got to get
in some full speed work, you know, just so you
can get yourself acclimated, get up to being you're ready
to go. But I thought the joint practice kind of
eliminated the need for that.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Okay, So here's the thing, and hopefully I'm not sharing
insider secrets, but so the Jags were trying to get
the joint practices but couldn't get them.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
There's something conflict on days whatever.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
So they have one set with the Miami Dolphins next week,
but it didn't have one this week.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
So it's funny because they're playing New Orleans.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
New Orleans is having a joint practice I think today
against the Rams, So the Jags are having a scrimmage,
like a scrimmage with themselves, trying to kind of get
that work that forced to be work that you would
get without having to joint practice. I just man, I
just wonder can you get it done internally having in
(03:38):
essence like a couple of till and white scrimmages preseason
games and not really exposing your guys to the thing
I am with you, you don't have a shot if
you don't have you guys, no matter what we can
say at all, if your a guys are out, you
don't have a shot. You at least want to get
to the starting line with your guys and if they
(03:59):
get in the season, that's one thing. But you would
like to get to the regular season with your people
ready to go.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, I think i'd I think it would be easier
for me to deal with maybe losing a game or
two early in the season and being like a, you know,
maybe we could have done more. I think I'd be
okay with that versus man, we went hard, but we
were missing two guys for the start of the season, Like,
that's the worst option to me.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I'm with you on that. I mean, I think there's
there's a lot of truth too. Hey, we want to
get them there, but I want to get to start
in line with my A team.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And if my A team is.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Not good enough, that's cool, but I would like to
at least see what it looks like the first two
or three weeks when we have our guys.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah. I do like the idea of kind of ramping up,
you know, as you're going through training camp and like
unlike you know, like say, like the Dodgers' bullpen. You
want to finish strong. You want to be able to
finish strong in the rolling By the way, By the way,
my neck is bothering me because I keep looking down
at the Dodgers in the standings and I just it
just it.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Just finally took place.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
But as we all know, like none of it matters
until we get this up Timber in October, so.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
We thought, But it does feel good, man, it does
feel good.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (05:06):
I realized by the way the last baseball conversation here,
last take they had the Potterys haven't won the division
since two thousand and six. Two thousand and six, buck.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Well, how confident are you going that's gonna win it?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Now? That win it?
Speaker 1 (05:21):
I feel good. We had better seeing the Dodger But
I just I couldn't believe that two thousand and six.
I was working with the Ravens in two thousand and six,
A million years ago. I was watching Steve McNair sling
the ball around with Todd Heap too.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
What I mean, I mean for a while, I mean
it was it was it was Giants.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Dodgers have been of late.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Dodgers have won eleven of the last twelve divisions, Like
that's not been anybody else. The Giants lucked into one
year and that was it.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
I didn't didn't Diamondbacks win one too? Did they?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Did?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
They give them that?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
They they've beat him in the playoffs. Everybody beats the
Dodgers in the playoffs. But I mean, like just in
terms of like the regular season stuff, so.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I know you can relate to this.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I'm actually okay with it because it reminds me of
the Brave. You always got it to win it, you
gotta at least be in it, and so we guaranteed
it be in it. That always gives you a chance.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
But then like the San Francisco Giants would get in,
like just win the World Series three times, and like
they only make the playoffs three times, but every time
they got in, they would win the win the World
Series during those like the Miami Marlins, the same thing.
I just want one, that's all. I'm not greedy. I
get one. I will never hear me talking about baseball
ever again, because.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Once you give one, you want another. Like there's no,
there's no like the Cubs fans that were like, oh,
we just want to win this and that's it. No,
once you get a taste of it, like you always
want to go back to the will.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
To be fair, I don't know how I would act,
because I don't have any experience.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
You'd be in, you.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Suffering.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So I listened to the Dodgers postgame talk show Dodger
Talk what's on Money Station on five seventy only after
they lose games, because I just like I revel in it.
So I want to text I want to X thread
with Money and petros uh and Tim Kates, who does
a lot of the postgame shows, And so I texted
him during the Dodger game last night and I this
(07:09):
is like the seventh inning and Dodgers in winning at
this time, I said, I'm so torn right now. Yes,
I'd love to see the Dodgers blow another game. I
just don't think I can stay up for another Dodger Talk.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I need to sleep.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
And then uh, and then the Dodgers blew the game
once again, and I wrote, I'll sleep tomorrow Dodger Talk.
Let's ride, all right. I want to hit on some
some second year wide receivers. Buck. We're gonna get to
some defensive topics here in a minute, but I want
to start this thing off football wise on second year whiteouts,
because that that that group we loved them up in
(07:42):
the in the draft process last year. And I think
there's a lot of interesting guys in this mix. So
I'm gonna kind of give you some names here of
some players, and then I want to get you know,
anything that stood out to you or what you've seen
talking to guys, what you've seen in a little bit
of preseason. But you got Marvin Harrison, Molak, Neighbors, Roama doing, say,
Brian Thomas Junior, Xavier Worthy. Then it was Pearce All Lagette,
(08:04):
Keon Coleman, Lad McConkie, Jalen polk Adnai Mitchell, Like, that's
going down a couple more here, Malachi Corley's your main,
Burton Roman Wilson's that's a good chunk of guys there.
So well, those second year players, I've got a couple
notes on a couple guys, but I didn't know if
there was anybody that stood out to you that you're
looking forward to seeing this year.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Well, look, man, I'm gonna say this because Marvin Harrison
Junior to me is intriguing just.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Because did j add.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
People don't talk about him like you had a lot
of conversations about Malikueighbors, a lot of conversation about Brian
Thomas Junior. Even Romadonza has gone at some conversation, but it.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Is relatively quiet.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Around the desert when it comes to Marvin Harrison Junior.
Now visually physically, he looks like a different animal. He's
bucked up a little bit, he's done those things or whatever.
But I want to see if he can hold it
down like we expected him to hold it down. You know,
there's some concerns, like people talk about the speed, the
burst and all that. Didn't do any of the testing
(09:03):
and those things. And the season was solid. It was okay,
but it wasn't quite what you expected given the fanfare
that surrounds him for so much of his career at
Ohio State. I want to see how they maximize this talent,
how they kind of meet him where he's at so
that if he isn't going to be one of those
(09:23):
transcending stars like Elaro Fitzgerald, how can they get the
production to validate where they picked him in the draft.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Yeah. I watched a little bit of their game, their
preseason game, went through and watched the tape on thats
Bucky just kind of looks like a big slot.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
And I don't.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
I mean, I'm still hopeful he's going to be productive.
I think, to me, you got to change your expectations
a little bit. I don't think he's going to be
you know, like his dad was catching a hundred bazillion
balls a year. I think you're going to you're going
to measure his impact with touchdowns and then maybe some
some third down stuff with just his size as someone
who works in the middle of the field. But I
don't want to use the word. It's uzer is like
(10:02):
the low end of it. And then if you're gonna
be complimentary, you'd say cruiser, So like an ouzer cruiser
type versus just I don't I don't feel him. I
don't feel his juicer speed at all.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Okay, So if this point us out, if.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Marvin Harrison Junior had a career that was comparable at
the Marcus Couston, how would you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Because when you talk about big slock good, it's a
really good.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Player, but not worth you know, picking as the second
overall pick or whatever.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
He was, Yeah, and and and so, like Marcus Couston
was kind of like the giant slot receiver, kind of
made it in vogue to put him as the number three.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
He could do some stuff called a ton of balls.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Yeah, he had no walk, so Michael Thomas could run basically, I.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Mean basically yeah, I mean like that's that's kind of
what it is now you hope that Marvin Harrison Junior
can do maybe more than Michael Thomas thing. But right
now he's kind of picked in that that role. Larry
fiz Generald jumped in the role at the end of
his career, and so it's just a hard it's a
hard hustle right now for Marvin Harrison Junior. He cares
(11:08):
the weight of the name on his back. But right
now the game hasn't necessarily lived up to some of
the hype that proceeded as a rocker.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Well, I think you're hoping you're just gonna get double
digit touchdowns, like he's gonna, you know, be that size
resome weapon.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Some things move the chains. Maybe maybe he can become
a Chris Carter type. Maybe he can do some things
that you can find a way to do it. But
right now, one on one, on the outside, it looks
like it's a bit of a struggle consistently for him
to win against the premier guys on the perimid.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Yeah, that's why I'm curious to see what it looks
like once we get to the regular season and all that.
The Uh, there's a whole launderlist. I gave you a
bunch of guys there. Roma Dunze is one that I'm
really excited about to see what's the next step for him.
I think, to me, just get more opportunities and getting
more accurate balls, you know, hopefully that's something to come
in his way. With Caleb taking a step forward, Ben
Johnson the year, but I think he's going to be
(12:01):
really solid. There's a couple down the line, guys. I
wanted to hit on ad Mitchell. I think we might
have referenced him the other day, but ad Ni Mitchell
has had a really good camp by all accounts. Go
back and watch the preseason game. You see him win
on a comeback, You see him win on a dig.
This is just not somebody who with his speed you
know he can run, is not just going to be
a vertical player. He's got the He's got the capabilities
(12:23):
of being a full rout tree guy and an impact player.
And I will see what the quarterback position looks like
for the Colts. But I was I liked what I
saw and I like what I've heard on ad Mitchell.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Yeah, I think he has a better chance of being
an impact player if Danny Dimes Daniel Jones is the quarterback.
Just because of Dan Danews's ability to stick in the pocket,
hang and go through the progressions. I think it's easy
for Shane Stiching to make sure that ad Mitchell is
heavily involved in the game plan. What we loved about
him when he was coming out is to speed, this explosedness,
the burst what he could do and as a compliment
(12:55):
to what they have in Michael Pittman and Josh Downs,
there are a lot of balls that can hit in
his direction. You just got to make sure that the
quarter quarterback play a solid That's the number one question
for the goals. Can they get enough production and quality
performance from the quarterback to be able to tap into
all the weapons that they have because offenously, they do
(13:15):
have enough weapons to be able to compete with the
high end talent teams in.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
The league, no question. Last year, Lad McConkie had a
huge year for the Chargers. Monster year was really looking
like he could end up being a top five type
receiver in the NFL. Like that type of crazy production
in his future. Now Keenan Allen gets signed and I
saw makonkiy at a quote the other day where he
was like, people are saying, how is this going to
work with Keenan because they think I'm a slot only
(13:41):
guy that they not watched me last year. Like I
play outside, I play, I play anywhere. So I don't
know that that's going to heavily impact the amount of targets.
I think. I still think that passing game is going
to go through lad McConkie.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
And I think what Keenan is is he's the old
trustee vet, kind of like the old shoes that you
like to put on around the house every now and in,
where Justin Hurpey can go to him in some situations,
but not all situations. Lad mccacky certainly has earned the
trust of not only the quarterback but of the coaching staff.
To me, he is still wide receiver one no matter
who they bring in, what they've done, His quickness, his
(14:18):
ability to separate, his versatility makes them dangerous. And in
a run heavy offense where he's insured of getting one
on one coverage, he's gonna wear people out on the permit.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Now one more I wanted to hit you on I
don't know where. I don't know if this guy's gonna
be active on game day just because it's a numbers game.
But I did like what I saw in the first
preseason game from Roman Wilson. Roman Wilson played fast, He
looked fast. He got them ball a little bit down
the field. But then to me, it's a quick hitters.
Get the ball in his hands. Let that speed play.
(14:49):
And to me, Aaron Rodgers, there's like a Aaron Rodgers
a quarterback at this point in time where there's a
shot clock. To me, I could you can almost watch
it and say, Okay, if he holds the ball beyond
this time, no bueno. He's going to take sacks. There's
going to be some concern about putting the ball maybe
in jeopardy. I think that he's at his best, especially
at this age when he is on time, in rhythm,
(15:09):
back foot gone, and I think Roman Wilson and if
they can find a role for him, they just got
so many they got a numbers game that they got
to work with here with Robert Woods and DK and
and all the other guys that they've got the in
the mix there, it's like Scottie Miller's is someone there.
So I don't know, I don't know how they fit
him in, But I liked what I saw from him
in a preseason game.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Well, I think he definitely fits in.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
And I would say and watching pregame one ups now,
ay rot Rodgers was working with DK primarily, but you
can see all these guys work out. And what I
will say is when you look at Roan Wilson, his
stop star quickness, his route runability, all the savvy that
he just played in Michigan was on full display during
(15:52):
that game. Pregame and during the game. I think there's
a role for him. I just think of Pittsburgh and
how successful that they've been traditionally finding those receivers on
day two. I think he's the next one that's gonna
be a solid starter. He's a nice compliment the DK metcalf.
It's literally how do they find a role with him?
And do they have to make a hard decision in
(16:14):
terms of Robert Woods or Ruman.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Wilson, Like, how do they go about that?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
But it comes down to trust, And I think the
more that he plays and performs at a high level
doing the preseason, the more likely he is he will
be to earn the trust of the coaches and the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
All Right, if I if I told you not and
I'm not gonna get you in trouble with the Jacks here.
But Brian Thomas Junior is awesome as he was last
year and what we see with him going forward. If
I told you you had to go play a game
tomorrow and I gave you your choice of the two
LSU receivers, between Elak Neighbors and Brian Thomas Junior, who
you're rolling with. M I got a fan. I got
(16:53):
a fantasy football draft coming up, buck. I think I
pick six or seven something like that. I'm gonna take
it one of the guys.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, that's a tough one. Now, I go back to
my original conversation. Cortez Hankton from LSU had talked about
both of those guys, and he talked about Elite Neighbors
is the dog, but Brian Thomas Junior is the more
talented and gifted playmaker. And I would say being around him,
I think he exhibits dog quality, but it's just in.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
A quiet package. So I'm I'm gonna go with him
over Neighbors.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
And I know Davis is an absolute animal on the thing,
but there is something to watching Brian Thomas Jr. And
I go back to I was watching, so I was
on the sideline. I don't know if it's Cleveland Gamers one,
did you. I know we've all been in games where
you see the ball go up and the receivers trying
to track it down.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
You're like, there's no way, and then.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
You look up and they hit another gear. Brian Thomas
Junior has that extra gear to go get the deep
ball that's hard to find. It's rare to find in
a playmaker, and he might be one of the unique
guys that is a true number one receiver but also
has big play potential. I'm rocking with him because there
(18:05):
can be a lot of things that we see from
this offense that reminds people of twenty eighteen twenty nineteen
La Rams.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
When Robert Woods and Brandon.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Cooks and Cup and all those guys were kind of
getting busy doing a bunch of different creative things on
play action across the mid little field.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
You know what's nuts. I was looking at from last
year receiving yardage leaders. Last year, Jamar Chase was one,
Justin Jefferson was two, Brian Thomas was three, Jerry Judy
or sorry, Milik Neighbors was seven. Four of the top seven,
including the top three all LSU receivers, and I think
Melik Neighbors could easily get up there in that top four.
(18:42):
You could have a situation where the top four receivers
are all LSU receivers and they could be followed by
the two USC receivers. And I'm and Russaint Brown and
Drake London like that could be the top six receivers
in the NFL could come from two schools. That's nuts.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
That is nuts.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
And I got a netty conversation for you. I think
you know you know Jerry Sullivan, Wyon coach, dad of
John Eric Sullivan, great personnel guy with the Green Bay package. Anyway,
we were in the airport together a couple of weeks ago.
He was heading out to go actually work with Larry
Fitzgerald's son. He was going to training them out in
San Diego. All those guys going to Notre Dame. Notre Dame,
but then's the home of the former NFL players. So anyway,
(19:21):
Jerry and I talk and he man, I never forget
like he gave me a hard time because I didn't
rank Justin Jefferson high up when he was coming out.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
So anyway, he was doing a comparison.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
I think this is good for us when we talk
about wide receivers, he was saying, and coaching Jamaar Chase
and Justin Jefferson. He said, it's such an interesting thing
that you're going to have two guys who are highly
productive to be so different stylistically. And Justin Jefferson he
talked about despite being a two star recruit and all
that he's like Buck, this dude is a competitive dog,
(19:52):
a competitive maniac. But his route running, how clean he is,
all that stuff is lewd, he said. And Jamaar Chase,
it will never look as clean as Justin Jefferson. But
he said, you have to remember he is a running
back on the power, and he said that if you
keep that in mind and know that it's not stylistically
(20:16):
what you always wanted a perimeter, but when the ball
is in his hands, it is a completely different thing.
And when I look at those guys, and you do
look at the physical differences, it's just amazing to me
that we are in time in the National Football League
when these guys come in different sizes and shapes and flavors,
but yet they still can put up to kind of
(20:36):
numbers that are extraordinary no matter how you play, no
matter how your style is.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
All right, that's going to leave me. As we wrap
up this discussion here to my scouting term of the
week here. I always love talking to different people in
different sports and then taking different terminology and applying it.
And this is one that I've just heard a lot.
I've heard a lot this year. I've heard it from
baseball guys. I've also heard heard it from from some
football buddies, but I've never used it in a report.
(21:05):
And man, I just I think there's something to it,
and it might have been less Need was talking about
this a little bit, Jason Light was talking about this
a little bit, uh, and then some baseball GM buddies
I was talking to used the same So I'm like, man,
there's something to this. Everybody's talking about this, but they
use the term care factor. H I was like, you
know what, I like that. I like that phrasing of it,
(21:25):
like oh, he loves football, you know, blah blah blah.
And they said, no, No, this is a like this guy.
This guy cares. It's important to him, and that's that's
reflected in the time that he spends. That's his focus
that's his focus in practice as well as in his training.
Like there's just a care factor there. And uh, I
thought that was interesting just the way you describe in
(21:46):
those receivers different skill sets, but there's a high care
factor for both those guys.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
You know, it's funny because that appears to be the
thing that has really jumped into the scouting process to
last year or so, people really wanted to dive into.
Do play really love ball? And then the other part
of it is can you create an environment where.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
That is what it is. It's about the ball.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
It's about loving ball and not about all the other
stuff that can impact the player, like building a brand
or all these other things that can take you away
from the main thing being the main thing. And maybe
it's just being around the rams of late like we
were last week, being able to see them in joint
(22:30):
preduce where you know, it is really an environment about
ball and being around Mike Tomlin and the Steelers and
watching them where they talk about hey man, it's pretty simple, man,
It's about effort and toughness and do you love ball
and the relationships that come from people who love ball
being together.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
To me, DJ, that's the secret sauce.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
And that's really the separating factor between why some guys
make it and why some don't is do you love
it enough to do whatever it is you need to
do to maximize everything that you have on the inside
that comes from the love of the game that doesn't
come from anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Yeah, again, you hate to miss on any player, but
might it would be extra painful if you miss on
a guy because he simply doesn't possess that you know,
he doesn't have that care. That would be That'd be
a hard one to swallow. And that's where personnel departments,
I think have gotten better of saying, hey, we you know,
the talent is the talent, I don't know. That's the
hardest part of scouting. It's the other stuff where you're
investing more your time, oh.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
One hundred percent, and is being able to get around
the person. That's being able to get around multiple people
that are close to the person to paint the four picture.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
And it might be harder to do.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Now, but the area scout has to do some deep
digging to really understand the player and the relationships that
you make. And I don't think you've ever been to
a progaate with me down at LSU. But that's the relationships.
I just remember going down to LSU so many times
and being able to talk to those young players, and
the young players could give you information on the old players.
(24:05):
And you know, Jamal Adams and I had a special
relationship and he could give me the thumbs up and
thumbs down on players because like, you're also whatever he
was and whatever he became as a pro. They do
love ball the one point, I mean loved it, lived,
it couldn't stop. And man, I just think it's hard
for those guys to feel and if I'm a fill
(24:25):
on a pick, I at least want to fail on
a pick where I feel like, man, this dude is
doing everything in his power to make it happen. The
guys who don't care about it, those are the ones
that are frustrated.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
They have no question. All right, quick break, we'll come back.
We're going to talk some defense right after this. All right, Buck,
you're talking about some of the top defensive fronts in
the NFL. Here fill me in.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Okay, So I'm doing this project that's going to be
on the notebook this week and check it out on
NFL dot com. We were talking about the top defensive fronts.
And it came off of conversation with Baldy where Baldy
had a chance to see Abduel Carter in the preseason
and Abdu Carter does what abdu Carter does and he
dominated back and shop. So then you start thinking about
the Giants and what the Giants potentially could try it out,
(25:14):
and Afourse him upfront, Dexter Carter on the inside, you
got Kevon Tipoda, O'Brian Burns and Abdu Carter and a
Mirdor role is just kind of wrecking shop. So you man,
you know what's funny about the Giants is whenever the
Giants have had a Super Bowl team, they've always had
that kind of group up front. Justin Tuck and MATHIASKI
(25:34):
Manuka os you me and you're Michael Strahan even back
in the day, Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor and Leonard Marshall.
So he let me say, man, like, who is some
of the top defensive front So I got the Giants
in the mix because I'm looking at what they can do.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Like, oh man, they don't.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
They're not many people that have an inside pass rusher
and Dexter Lawrence who can get you nine sacks and
then these speed demons on the outside. But then I
went to Minnesota and I'm looking at the new and
improved Minnesota where you have Harrison Phillips on the inside,
but they go and get a giantthan Allan. They get
Javon Hargrave to go what they already had, and Jonathan
(26:13):
Grenard and Andrew.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Liked, that's a lot of sack production.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
And Brian Floyd is dealing up pressures to make sure
they get one on ones. And finally I'm looking at
the Houston Texans who found a way to get Will Anderson,
you get the Neil Hunter. I mean, just those two
alone makes it formidable, and then you got some big
guys inside it.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Look. We talked about this.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Being a passing league and how the premium positions are
always the passers, the pass rushers, the protectors, and the playmakers. Man,
if you don't have pass rushers at multiple spots on
the team, you have no shot of being able to
win at the highest level.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Yeah, essentially you bring up those teams because Houston, of
all the teams I saw in person last year, you know,
doing the Charger games. To me, I always talk about
like can you do you feel it? Like if you're
talking about receivers, talking about Marvin Harrison, can you feel
it Speed Houston? You felt their front buck like it?
They are up, they are up the field. It is
attack all day long. And that's the problem. You know,
(27:14):
Denico Autry's in that mix as well, so they that
group now that, I have no problem whatsoever saying I
would put that group right, if not at the very top,
then right near the very top. I don't know if
anybody else, I would take over that front the other
group I would add off the top of my head.
I think Pittsburgh's got a chance, not only with talent,
but with depth. They've got a lot of waves of
(27:35):
guys they can throw at you.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Oh I mean, look, you got t J.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Watt, who's always in play for defensive Play of the Year.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
T J.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Watt, Cam Heyward is the vet the Stallwarts. But you've
got a whole bunch of other guys in there.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Man, Like they have done a really good job of
like fortifying those guys, and you think about what Derek
Carmon can do when they get back. Yeah, I've got
a bunch of right, because we know multiple people in
those buildings and what they're looking for.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
DJ.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
There is a toughness and an edginess that those guys
have that keep the Pittsburgh Steel is in play for sure.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Yeah. And then again it's like I think you kind
of have the high end talent guys and the wave
teams that Eagles have a good mix. You know, when
Jalen Carter's on his game and rolling and then they
just got waves, waves to throw out in.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Young athletic ways. You know.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
The funny thing is when you go back and you
look at their depth chart, Jalen Carter is kind of
like the crown jewel, and then you have a bunch
of just like good players.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
They got a bunch of bees.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Who's the next notable name? Who's the next one that
we're gonna tell from their group?
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (28:43):
What about Denver? What about Denver Buck? Did they not
get close in your thinking? They're Zach Allen? How about this?
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Like, I just think you're a good group, man, man,
really good group. But how about DJ? What people might
have thought about him coming out and what he's become,
you know what I mean? Like, it's just the league
is so funny because it takes the right spot the
right scheme, the right environment, and man, guys can just
completely blow up.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
He's a terrific player too.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
You're right, Yeah, well there's there's some good options to
choose from there. I just again from just being in
that building. And maybe it was the fact it was
the playoffs. It was loud, but I mean that they
got fucked. They got off the rock man like.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
I mean, it's so they're fast.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
And I will say this, I think Dimico Ryans is
underrated in terms of like he has some of that
dog to him. I think people get fooled by the
nice guy persona and how he comes off, but he
has a way of kind of cracking the whip and
getting those guys going because they they do play at
a frenetic pace, particularly at home.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Yeah, I don't know. I don't know if if Matt
Burke has ever interviewed for a head coaching job, I
don't think I've seen that is a I think you
went to Dartmouth. He's been around a lot of good
coaches and they have a dominant group there. Maybe he's
a name that gets circulated here in this next coaching cycle,
(30:06):
but they had a good defense not to mention you
go to the back end and the pieces they have
in the secondary cried aren't good too.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Man.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
You talked about it, DJ. That gives you a chance.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
So when everyone is him and all and ready to
try and find somebody else in the South, I was like,
you can't put anybody over to Texas until you find
someone that can deal with that defense. Yeah, and the
quarterback on the bounce back.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Mm hmm, I'm with you on that, all right, Buck,
did you do anything on the what else did you
have going on? Man?
Speaker 3 (30:31):
Now that's it, Like, I'll get to the secondary. You
already mentioned some of those guys in the secondary. You
talk about Houston Pittsburgh is gonna be the conversation you
have they have. The Denver Broncos have to be in
that conversation. Like just thinking about the rich getting Richard
de Baron joining a group that has passer ten already
in the mix, and they got some playmakers all around.
I mean the Eagles and what they're doing with that
(30:52):
young crew.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
It's crazy.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
They give rid of chesa gardener Johnson, but they may
not skip a when it comes to how they play
in the backside.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Yeah, it's kind of interesting that the Eagles have some stars,
you know, some individual stars. Man. They they whipping people
with depth.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Man.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
They just got a lot of dudes. They can play everywhere,
just overwhelm you.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
And basketball has done this where we saw like the
strengthen numbers, we saw how the Pacers were able to
get to Oklahoma City. There's something to being able to
We talked about what a bunch of bees. Yeah, but
if I if I had ten bees and you only
have one or two a's, I'm.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Wearing you out. I wear you down in time.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
There's there's a.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Lot to that.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Yeah, no question. All right, this has been a good
one man. Looking forward to getting out to some preseason
games this weekend. We got college football right around the
corner as well, so maybe jump into that a little
bit next week, but we'll be back to recap everything
we see on the preseason front. See some of these
young quarterbacks as well. While we rying those guys, I
appreciate you. See next time right here on, Move the sticks.
Hosts And Creators
Daniel Jeremiah
Bucky Brooks
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