Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Smith's sitting in for the one and Only Benjamin Albright, joined.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
By my good friend Nick Ferguson. How are you tonight, Nick.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
What's going on, mister Grant Smith.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm feeling good.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It feels weird to be sitting on the other side
of the glass, but I am thankful for the opportunity,
and what a time to do it for the first time,
you know, with the Broncos on the eve of a
playoff berth for the first time since the Super Bowl
winning team back in twenty fifteen.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's cool to be in here with you.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah, it's better to be on I guess, the positive
side of things opposed to be on the negative side.
But you and I have somewhat done this before you
take it for granted podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Yeah, it's one of my favorite episodes we ever got
to do with the Love Doctor. Nick Ferguson talking relationships and.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Zach doesn't know about the Love Doctor.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Zach, you don't know about the Love Doctor. This is
news to me.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I'm not familiar.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
Nick.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
If you need any relationship advice ever, you asked the
one and only Nick Ferguson.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I got you covered. I have to.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I'll follow up on that you're in a relationship, right,
I am long term relationship.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
How long you guys been together?
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Eight years?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Now?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Eight years? Wow? I no time to put a ring
on that finger.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Eight years?
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
How you're twenty five? Uh yeah, yeah, so since high school?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
High school sweethearts, yeah, yeah, senior year, the different high
school stough.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
You know what's happening exactly, right, man, you know what's
happening exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I know what's happening, yes, And I'm working.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
I'm working on things, okay, but hey, don't feel too rushed.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
You're so young.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
But if it's the right one, you got to put
a ring on it. I learned this lesson. I was
with my now wife for seven years before I popped
the question.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Yeah, here's my advice to you, and I give this
to everyone all the time. Anytime we are forced into
something we don't like it as people, but more poorly,
it's men. We just we just don't that's the truth.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
And I rather know that.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Okay, Well, I'm making this long term agreement in front
of family and in front of God, and I know
that I want to do it right. So you have
to make sure that you want to do it, because
everyone's going pressure you wanted to decide it goes start
looking at clogs and you know what, no, no, no, no,
we don't live by clock. The only people that matter
(02:12):
you and your girl.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
That's it. Yeah, that's about it feels right there.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You go, look you are you are smarter than your age.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
And when you need to go get that love relationship advice,
go check out that Nick Ferguson episode of the Taking
It for Granted Podcast. And speaking of podcasts, the iHeartRadio
app well, they're going to be celebrating the podcast as well.
KOA celebrates the best in podcasting at our twenty twenty
five iHeartRadio Podcast Awards live at south.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
By Southwest Monday, March tenth.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Podcast fans celebrate your favorites by voting at iHeart Podcast
Awards dot com. Sadly, the Taking It for Granted Podcast
not named, not nominated.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
What I know? How did that not happen? Grant?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
I don't know, Maybe it's because I've been on the hiatus,
but I do have it. Celebrating the five year anniversary,
picking up on Monday with an episode with my brother
and we got a big show coming up tonight. We've
got the legend Rick Lewis joining us at six thirty.
Ryan Michael going to take us inside the Numbers at
seven oh five, and Ryan O'Halloran, who used to be
with the Denver Post now working for the Buffalo News,
(03:18):
going to join us at seven thirty five. And you
know how Ben likes to rebrand the show every once
in a while. You know, it was Playoffs country Tonight
the other night. Yes, tonight is positive, Country Tonight positive.
You know, I know you're a big positivity guy.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yes, I am. I mean I try to balance the equation,
the math equation with Ben sometimes.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah, well it's hard to balance out the web blanket
all bright. Yeah, there's a reason he had that name.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
It is very difficult with Ben sometimes. And I tried
to get being a somewhat turn the corner, if you will. Yeah, well,
sometimes he loves to, uh backpedal.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
What's so that?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I always I wonder if he played dB himself at
any point, because he does a lot of backpedaling.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yeah, Well, he's a he's coming around a little bit.
I think, you know he's he's he said he put
the wet blanket in the dryer.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
He did predict the Broncos to get nine wins.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
This year, So I got to give him credit on that,
but it's nice to be sticking to the positives. And
I told Ryan Michael, I texted him earlier this week,
when I knew he was going to be joining us tonight,
that I only want positive stats on the Broncos tonight
because we're going into this game as an underdog. You know,
no one in the national media really thinks that we're
going to win this game, but I have a sneaking
(04:32):
suspicion that it's going to be a lot closer than
a lot of the people think.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
If there was one game over the weekend that I
figured that could be, it could be an upset alert
and really shocking it is. In fact, this Broncos team,
and the way I look at it, grant you don't
want to oversell it and you don't want to undersell
it at the same time, right and here, and Here's
(04:57):
what I mean, because when you start to look at
the matchup, you can make a case either way for
either team.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
But I'm thinking if you.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Take a deeper dive into it, obviously I understand why
most people are looking at Buffalo based on who they
have at the quarterback position, but I think they're undervaluing
what the Buffalo Bills can do from a receiving standpoint.
As I was driving in, I was listening to the
guys on the Sports Zoo as they were talking about
(05:29):
how the Buffalo Bills their receiving corps were not the
Cincinnati Bengals, and he got me to thinking, and I said, well,
I don't think the guys really thought that through.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
And what I mean by that is.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
In that game, Jamar Chase didn't have one of those
historic games where he had a lot of explosive plays.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, without him pretty much in check, that's.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Right, And it was like kind of a zach Teller
formula of slow and conservative and methodical. But they converted first,
i mean third downs, that was kind of the thing.
And they moved the ball down the field in the
methodical way, in the way that we hadn't seen Cincinnati
moved the ball down the field.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
They're all about explosive place exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So that's why I'm like, I don't know, fellas, because
you're undermining some of the receivers that Buffalo like they have.
And granted I get it, I understand why. From the
guy's standpoint, you're not dealing with a lot of household names.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Grant right, the only one that was a big name
before was Stefan Diggs and he's gone now and he's gone.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Well, this is the beauty of the playoffs at this
point of the year. Yeah, you have teams with all
these star names, but it's usually not the stars that
typically rise to the top. It's those guys that no
one even knew.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
This is where the people make them make names for them.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
There you go, that's where you make names for yourself.
And Josh Allen with him being the captain of the plane,
he can move pieces around and what Buffalo what they
do is what I like since they don't have a
lot of big household names. Ball distribution, Yep, they move
the ball around. So if you're thinking, okay, well we're
(07:14):
gonna stop this guy, they're go like, okay, well we're
gonna give it to this guy, this guy and this guy.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
And arguably, I mean not even arguably, the Bills offense
is better this year without digs because they're able to
spread the ball around and Josh Allen doesn't feel like
he has to get the ball to one receiver no
matter what, because you know, Stefan Diggs. You're gonna hear
from him if he doesn't get the ball. But now
you've got all these guys that haven't made a name
for themselves yet, that aren't worried about that. They just
(07:39):
want to win games and help out the team the
way they can. And Josh Allen looks so much freer
as a quarterback this year.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
And this is why football is the greatest team sport ever, right,
because yeah, you have your household name guys, but then
you get the sprinkle of these guys and no one
knows that they're trying to make a name for themselves.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
Just go back for a second.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
When Tyreek Hill left Kansas City went to Miami, everyone
was like, oh, it's over, it's over. Yes, it's time
to beat the Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
And then they won another Super Bowl and then another
one as well.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
They're trying to win. They're trying to win the third
one in a row. But the idea is that as
a quarterback, sometimes you have a safety net, a reliable
blanket if you will, someone you can go to because
they're all reliable. In the case of Patrick Mahomes, is
Travis Kelsey. Where you look at Josh Allen. Some would
(08:40):
say that it's his tight end, that's right, but they
still got Dawson Knox, and they got a variety of different.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Guys, And man, how dangerous is Shakiro when he gets
the ball in his hands.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I'm glad you brought that up because this whole idea
listening to the guys on the sport too.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Well, there's no Jamar Chase.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
You might not need him. It's great to have one
of those guys, but each guy understanding his own individual role.
And once again the reason why football is the best
team sport because it calls on a team, not an individual.
Even though at the end of the Super Bowl every
single year with exception I believe of Super Bowl fifty
(09:21):
when Bond was able to kind of I'm going to
Disney World. But the whole idea is that everyone hangs
on this idea that everything resides with the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
No, it's not. Is it part of a puzzle, Yes,
it's part of the puzzle. It's not the only piece.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
It's not the center piece, it's not the corner piece.
It is a piece.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Well, another big piece of the puzzle for the Buffalo
Bills is their running game. James Cook and Josh Allen
with his feet. How big of an issue do you
think James Cook's running ability is going to present to
the Broncos defense.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
It's going to be a huge deal.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
But for this this particular game, or when I look
at running backs, it's.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Not just about their running ability.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
For me, and I'm speaking as a guy that played
on the defensive side of the ball and a coach
from the defensive side of the ball, it's about that
running backs versatility. Because everyone always talks about when it
comes to running back, run the ball, run the ball.
Now it's about touches, pimping, yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
It's touching, screen, game whatever, it makes you.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Think about it in the form of fantasy football, right,
if you're in the PPR league, it's about.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Points for reception exactly.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
And idea is, how can you get that runner more touches,
more involved catches, catches on a perimeter where you got
one on one with the safety or a linebacker, or.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
You kind of put him in.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
A position where you isolate.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
One on one on coverage.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Yeah, or even when Josh Allen starts scrambling around when
the play breaks down and he's got that little safety
valve James Cook. Yeah, and just drop it off for
a fifteen to twenty yard game.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Right, Because what happens in that sense he's moving around,
everyone's dropping in coverage. So now you have linebackers who
are about four or five yards away from a receiver that's
sitting down or James Cook. So you give it to
James Cook. You give them an opportunity to turn around,
see up field, see what the defenders are. I'm gonna
(11:17):
tell you'uble amen, I don't care who you are. Steve
Atwater will tell you this. Champ will tell you this
as well. Open field tackling is the hardest, especially when
you're looking around like where are my buddies, myself?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
And then one move and you're looking silly.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yes, And this is why I think when I look
at the Broncos and how the Broncos have been uneffective
as far as in effect of probably better words, using
their running backs.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
To me, that's where you use your running backs.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Use your running backs in that particular way, isolate them.
Like if you say, okay, well Bo's in a shotgun
and he realizes their man coverage, right, well, you got
to back offset to your left. If you notice a
matchup you want, you move him over to your right
hand side. You already have a receiver motion down inside
the numbers right, so now you can use that wide
(12:16):
receiver who's motioned down or aligned to pick that linebacker
and coverage and get your guy on the flat right
now he's looking up field.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Now you can get vertical.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
And I think that's something that's an area where we
haven't really utilized it that much this year, and I
think that's something you know, Javonte has kind of been
designated to that third down back because he's a great
in past protection, but that's.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Something that you could use him for.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I mean, he's been great catching the ball and running
after the catch.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
I would love to see more of that this week.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
And once again that's why for me, it's about taking
your game plan, whether you're an offensive defensive coordinator, look
at some of your own tendencies. Because this is the
time of the year. You need self scout yourself. Your
parent is watching you, you need to watch yourself and say, well,
we're going into the playoffs, what are some of the
(13:07):
tendencies we like to do inside the red zone or
in this certain personnel group.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Break those Tennessees because.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Your opponent is thinking third and one. Here the Broncos
are coming on eleven personnel and they have Adam Truttman
or Lucas crawl inside ty or betty.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Ed Nate Atkins.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Oh we know what's coming. Like, here's this whole thing
where it looks like they're gonna run one way and
come back the oppositive way. I mean when I play
here for Mike Shanahan, they had a similar play and
it was called they called it crossfire.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
So it was like a misdirection.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
You get everyone thinking outside soon, but you got to
set it up and you get the linebackers overflowing and
then that running that fullback hides or the tight end
and he comes out the back door right. That's why
it was a thing of beauty watching Jake.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Plumber run the boots and keeps right.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It's the skuy And we haven't really seen Sean Payton's
offense do a lot of that.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, But I think Dave Logan made a great point
on KOA Sports earlier today. He said, Sean Payton, with
his reputation of being, you know, an offensive genius in
the NFL, this is a great opportunity for him to
break some of those tendencies that he's been doing all year,
his safety nets that he's gone to and third and shorts.
This is a great opportunity to prove again why he
(14:27):
is a step above most offensive play callers in the league,
and like you said, breaking some of those tendencies and
maybe throwing a little wrinkle in something that we haven't
seen yet this year.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Well, the whole thing about that, because we hear that
term thrown around a lot, you know, offensive genius. Just
like another term that I dislike, Oh, elite quarterback. Well
what the hell does that mean? I mean an elite quarterback?
Please break that down for me. But these are the
games where you have to be able to show that
(14:57):
you are that guy, right b Not my name alone,
you have to show it. This is the opportunity you
get a chance to display it. And if there was
something somewhere that Sean Payton wrote on a napkin, somewhere
sitting in the airport just just thinking of stuff, this
is the time.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
To run it.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
One of those plays he drew up.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yes, this is the time to do it that you
never thought that you would never run. This is the
time you know why all the pressures on Buffalo.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Yeah, and there's been some great quotes this week from
Broncos players about being the underdog, and we'll get to
that later. But earlier you mentioned von Miller, and I
don't you saw his comments about facing the Broncos. I
think he posted him on your Instagram or your Twitter page.
But if listeners haven't heard him yet, I want to
play it for him.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
It's all.
Speaker 6 (15:46):
Look, I can't even start to play a delusion of his.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Hatred or I can't even start to play that game.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
That I would put myself so far in a place
that's not even close to being in reality, that would
be it would be hurtful to the way I want
to play. I love those guys. I love everything about
the Denver Broncos. I paid close attention to the Denver Broncos.
Can't even start to play that.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
It's the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
I want to win.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I got it's none, but it's none but love.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
But those those small three to four second verse when
I'm playing in the game, that's sixty minutes when I'm
out there, I want to win. I want to win
the game. I want to I don't want to be
the Denver Broncos. It's all love at the end of
the day, but those small three to four second verse.
I gotta go through these guys to get where I
want to go, and it's kind of it's kind of weird,
but that's that's just how crazy that the NFL is
(16:36):
in the universe is.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
So instead of trying to fight it, I.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
Just am brace and it's a it's a cool event,
you know, to be able to play against this new
and improved you know Denver Broncos. The last time that
they made the playoffs was you know, the last time
last time we won.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
A super Bowl.
Speaker 6 (16:52):
So it's a full circle moment and it's nothing but
love and respect for the Denver Broncos and Broncos.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Country for sure. I thought that was a great answer
from Vaughn. What is what were your thoughts on it?
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Well, I thought Bond should said what I would have said.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Well, what you have said, Well, if.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
You play long enough, you get a chance to play
against former teams, teams that let you go, teams that
for whatever reason, felas though you were no longer capable
of doing what you needed to do. But from a
plus standpoint, but I understand that that's the business aspect
of it. But for me, it's like I got to
go to a dark place, right, because it's like I'm
playing against a relative. There's so much love on that
(17:30):
side of the ball, so much love for the organization,
So you have to do something to create somewhat.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Of an enemy in your own mind, just like Michael Jordan.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Yes, and it's no dispect for the Broncos. And Bonn
would never do that because he is that type of player.
But I've been in bon shoes when I played against
the New York Jets right after they let me go,
and I had to mentally go to what I'm going
to call the dark place. Who play against a guy
(18:02):
that I looked up to and Curtis Martin to be
able to tackle the guy that I call my friend, right,
how do I do that?
Speaker 2 (18:09):
You got to sweat your mindset?
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Can I Can I play this game in the physical
manner and still be cool with him?
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Can I?
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Can I do that? So I didn't talk to any
of the guys leading up to the game. I didn't
even go chop it up before the game ghost yes,
call what every was? Yes, because I wanted to make sure,
my mind was right because I wanted to play well
against him. Vaughn wants to play well against the team,
and like he said, the Broncos now staying in his
way of getting to a super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Well, and that's why I loved PS two's answer about
facing bon Miller.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
I know von owes this special place in his heart
of the Broncos Country because.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
You know, he sees one of his super Bowls here
his all exactly. He's cut Broncos Country.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
So it's gonna be a huge game for him, I believe.
But I'll tell him.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
I'll tell him as now like a Shaw Now. You
know he has time and carry back in his days.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Bizars coming out.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
So but I won't be the kitchen nowhere to re seniors.
See that's the mindset switch you were talking about.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
No matter how much I look up to this guy,
no matter how much he means to Broncos Country, it's
our time.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Now, Yes, it's our time, to Sean.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
You had yours, now is mine Now it's tign for
me to grab the brass ring.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
And that's the mentell you need to have.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Well, we're off and rolling on Broncos Country tonight. I'm
Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin all Bright along with
Nick Ferguson. We've got the one and only Rick Lewis
joining us next Tom Broncos Country Tonight.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
With Rick Lewis and.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
I'm Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright, joined by
my good friend Nick Ferguson, and our Broncos broadcast starting
at seven am on Sunday, kickoff eleven am Mountain Time
as a Broncos take on the Bills in their first
playoff appearance in Super Bowl fifty twenty fifteen, almost spend
ten years since they been in the playoffs, and our
(20:02):
Broncos broadcast of that game brought to you by Common
Spirit Health. Rick, how are you my friend?
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Hey, two of my favorite people, Nick Ferguson and Grant Smith.
And what the funk Grant? You're driving the show?
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yes, I am took you by surprise.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Huh yeah, man, that is so cool.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Oh, thank you?
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Congratulations. Man.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Well, you know what, rake a big game coming up
on Sunday, and I'm going to say it obviously it's
the biggest game that the Broncos have played.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
In about nine years. You've had a chance.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
To kind of watch the Broncos all season process this
game against Buffalo. Is there anything from a Buffalo standpoint
or a Broncos standpoint that scares.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
You, Well, yeah, Josh Allen, that's pretty scary. For one thing,
he's probably gonna be the MVP of the league. And
he's a guy that can hurt you on the ground
and he can hurt you through the air. In fact,
that offense is the only offense in NFL history to
(21:13):
score thirty touchdowns in the air and on the ground.
It's unbelievable. And you know, they don't turn the ball over.
They've had just eight turnovers, which ties an NFL record.
So these guys, obviously are playing at a very high level,
are going to be a tough team to beat, especially
(21:33):
at home in Buffalo where it's going to be football weather,
Buffalo football weather, cold, chance of snow, all of that.
So that is scary, Nick. But you know, going into
the game, I feel like the Broncos are playing with
house money. I think all the pressures on Buffalo. You know,
(21:53):
the Broncos just need to show up, play their game
with intensity. Hope they can put tog together a good
game plan. Hopefully, if they can play well in all
three phases of the game. I think you guys would agree.
I think they can beat anybody, Yeah, even the Buffalo Bills.
And if they can, if they can force a couple
(22:14):
of turnovers on Josh Allen, which hardly anybody's been able
to do this year, you got to You got a
shot to beat this team, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Flipping over to our quarterback, bow Knicks, rookie quarterback going
on the road to Buffalo to play in his first
playoff game, Sean Payton said earlier this week that he's
not worried about bow Knicks in a big game.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Are you worried about him?
Speaker 5 (22:37):
No, I'm not. I think he's the real deal. He
played in a lot of big games in college, and
let's face it, he's played in a lot of big
games here in the NFL and his rookie year, a
lot of primetime games. And really, when you look at
those three games down the stretch Niket four go back
to the indie game, all four of those were like
(22:59):
playoff games, and he won two. They went two and
two down that stretch. So I think bow Knicks is
going to be comfortable. I like bow Knicks to have
a good game, you know, I want to see him
make plays with his legs. I want to see him
designed runs, RPOs, everything that he can do. They're going
(23:22):
to have to utilize that in this game, and hopefully,
I'm hoping that Sean Payton maybe has a couple of
tricks up a sleep. You know, you've got a week
to prepare for this game, and Sean Payton's been a
head coach for a long time. Everybody knows his tendencies
when he gets in the red zone or down at
the goal line, or when he needs a third down.
(23:44):
I hope he's got a couple of curveballs that he
can throw at that defense at least early in the
game for some big plays. And I got a feeling
that could happen.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Rick, It's funny that you bring that up, because before
he joined us, Grant and I were talking about that
and that was kind of was kind of one of
my keys to the game. Can Sean Peyton break his
own tendencies? And you know how difficult that is when
you've been doing something for so long and you are
so dialved in on those couple of things. I mean,
(24:18):
do you really think, listen, let's really cut to the chase,
right We've been having this conversation all season long. Do
you really think that it is possible for Sean Payton
to develop new spots for this particular game against Buffalo,
because the saying is always, well, you know, a leopard never.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
Changes his spots.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Can't Sean Peyton change his spots?
Speaker 5 (24:45):
Man? That's a great question. You know, you obviously want
to lean on what you do well on both sides
of the ball, and I think they will do that.
But I think when it comes down to a critical
third down or even fourth down, or a critical play
in the red zone, I do think he'll have a
(25:05):
couple of things that he will change up this week
and break those tendencies. And I think he's going to
have to do that, and I think they're going to
have to take those type of chances to win this
football game. Like I said, you're playing with house money.
You just go out there and play football, man, and
you can afford to take some chances because nobody thinks
(25:26):
you're going to win this football game. What are the
nine and a half point dogs. I believe maybe even
ten by now, but remember they went in there last
year seven and a half point underdogs with Russell Wilson
at quarterback and shocked everybody. I'm monday of that football
won that game. This Broncos team is better than that
Broncos team. Now, on the other hand, this Bills team
(25:47):
is also better that. Here's one thing that I think
can happen in this game. You know, if Broncos are
the only team that hasn't had a one hundred yard
rusher the entire season, give it or not, the only team,
this could be the game they have that one hundred
yard rusher. I've talked to the guys at WGR and
(26:11):
Buffalo this morning, that's the Buffalo Bill's flagship radio station,
and they told me, they said, hey, man, you can
run on this team. And they said a lot of
teams that run on this team, and they're not very
good stop on the run. And that's what they were
worried about. They were worried that the Broncos are going
to come in there Sunday and run on them. Because
(26:32):
if the Broncos can do that, now you control time
of possession and you keep Josh Allen on the bench.
I think that gives them their best chance to win
the game.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Speaking of coaches, we were talking about Sean Payton maybe
changing some of his tendencies, and of course Sean McDermott
been to the playoffs quite a few times now. Sean Payton,
of course, we all know his history here in Broncos country.
Who do you think has the coaching advantage in this
game on Sunday?
Speaker 5 (26:58):
I think Sean Payton does. And for you know, one
of the reasons is all the pressure's on McDermott. You know,
imagine if the if the Broncos upset the Bills, McDermott
probably loses a job. He's got a ton of pressure
on him, and he's got the loaded team and he's
got the MVP quarterback. So I think that alone, you know,
(27:21):
takes the pressure off of Sean Payton, puts it all
on McDermott and Josh Allen in the Bills. And this
is one of the reasons why I think the Broncos
have at least a puncher's chance to win this football game.
So no, I think it's going to be on mcgermott
and the Bills all right, right.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Really quickly this They're going to run game for just
a second. Josh Allen has five hundred and thirty one
yards on the ground. That's more than any runner on
the Broncos roster. That's Bo Nicks or any of the
running backs. Now, how would you think the game plan
will be to stop Josh Allen passing but from running
(28:02):
the ball.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
Yeah, and you know, Nick, that's going to be I
think the biggest challenge for them. They're gonna have to
be disciplined and not let Josh Allen escape. Make him
a pocket passer. You know, he's he's not the most
accurate thrower in the league. Especially if you can keep
him in the pocket, and also if you can put
(28:26):
some pressure on him, just kind of rabble him a
little bit. He's a tough guy to sack. They don't
give up a lot of sacks, and he's a big dude,
But just pressure him, knock him around a little bit,
and keep him in the pocket because he can kill
you with his legs, especially down on the red zone.
They get down to the ten yard line, the nine
dog line, and you got to make sure that Josh
(28:48):
Allen doesn't get in the end zone running the football.
That's the scariest thing about him in my opinion. And
you know, he doesn't necessarily have a whole lot of weapons.
You know, I don't think his white receivers or anything special.
He's got a couple of good tight ends. And that's
a worry as well, because I think our inside linebackers
(29:09):
have really struggled in past coverage. I don't know how
you look at that, Nick, but I do think that's
been kind of a weak spot on our defense. So
that's another thing to watch in this game, if our
linebackers can hold.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Up in pass pro Rick, one final thing with you
before we let you go and have to hit traffic here.
But some of my favorite memories I've made since moving
here to Colorado from Ohio have been going to see
your band, The Rick Lewis Project perform a couple times.
One of my most memorable ones was you singing simple
Man right after you losing your dad, and my dad
happened to be with me in the crowd at the
(29:43):
barbecue fast down at in power Field, and I'll never
forget that moment. You got a couple gigs coming up
here in the next couple months.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Can you tell us about them?
Speaker 5 (29:51):
Yeah? Man, love to see you come out again. Grant's
February one of the Colorado Motorcycle Expo that will be
at the Coliseum, and then March first, we're playing with
the Freddie Jones band that had a couple of hits
in the nineties. That'll be at the Wild Goose in Parker.
(30:12):
Looks like it's going to be a big year for
RLP and I got to get Nick out to a
gig too. Love to get you out there. Nick.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Yes, I definitely have to get out to one myself,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
We gotta get Nick on the cowbo or the Triangle
or sometime we'll.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Get and play something. You know, what all Nick has
to do is come out and be Nick. He's the
coolest cat in Denver. Man. You come out with those
shades on, and I thought that, you know, one of
your fancy hats. That's all you gotta do. Man, you
don't have to do anything. You can just stand up
there and look cool.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
Hey, I can do that. I can do that really well.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Nick Ferguson never lacking in style and neither is the
one and only Rick Lewis.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
You can hear him on the call on Sunday. He's
the broncos color analyst. Rick.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Thanks as always, man, I love you guys, thanks for
having me on. He I love you too, man. All right,
well that's Rick Lewis. We'll react to that when we
come back. Rick Lewis the funk Master. I actually got
my introduction introduction to funk.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
Music through Rick Lewis.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Yeah, we used to.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
We used to do funky Fridays back when I produced
a show for him and got me to be a
huge fan of funk music.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Yes, well, we'll funk it up.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Chris Smith filling him for Benjamin Albright on Bronco's Country Tonight.
That voice you heard funking it up is the one
and only Nick Ferguson. I thought Rick had an interesting
point about defending Josh Allen. You had a great question
about trying to stop him and his running ability. We
had Nick Benito on KAWI Sports earlier today and Ryan
(31:48):
Edwards asked him a similar question about defending Josh Allen
and here's what he had to say.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
Josh Allen bo I mean, obviously, he's one of the
better quarterbacks in the league. He can make all the
throw he can do so much with his legs.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
I mean, there's so much.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
That he can do on the field. So I mean
our job is going to be tough this week.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
But I think you know VJ will have a great
plan for us, and and the guys are really eager
to go out there and play nick.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
If you're a VJ, what's your game plan?
Speaker 3 (32:15):
The game plan is telling everyone to just kind of
make sure you know your laying distribution, no delaying discipline
where if you edge rusher and you're getting upfield, ideas,
don't allow Josh Allen to get outside the pocket. And
I know that's easily said than done, because guys get
upfield and sometimes they get so eager to get to
(32:36):
sack the quarterback they get outside their rush lane and
when those tackles put their hand on that low hip
and they just run you by, it opens a kind
of organic chasm where whether it's the C gap or
the D gap for either the running back of the
quarterback to escape, because it's about those escape hatches, understanding
where the escape hatch is and want to make sure
(32:59):
that you were not rush up feel and listen to
that is like you gotta be careful to grand because
you don't want to get into this mush rush situation
where you're rushing but you're still watching the quarterback, but
you're not really trying to get to the depth of
the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (33:13):
No, get your eyes off the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Rook, try to get to it.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Make Josh Allen feel you.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
And then once he starts to feel you, be able
to kind of play with your hands and your eyes
and make plays on him as long as he steps
up inside. Now allows the linebackers and other players to flow.
But he gets outside of the pocket like a Lamar Jackson,
the Broncos, a Facet or Kyler Murray or Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (33:40):
That's where those types of guys.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Can hurt you.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
I was thinking about this earlier today, and I want
to get your thoughts on it later, but I was thinking,
you know, Nick Bonito having a heck of a year,
you know, thirteen sacks or thirteen and a half's name
to it, All Pro Team. I mean, it's been an
incredible year. But he's so he's such a freak athlete.
He's so fast, he's so smooth, said on display in
that Indianapolis Colts game when he took that fumble recovery
(34:04):
and quotations that was really at pick six.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Yeah, we see how athletic he is.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
I am thinking maybe we use him as a spy
on Josh Allen, but I want to get your thoughts
on that later.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
We got to hit a break here. We've got Ryan
Michael coming up next.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
We're going to go inside the numbers. Positive Numbers from
Ryan Michael. I'm Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright
on Broncos Country Tonight, joined by Nick Ferguson.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
We'll be right back after this short break.
Smith's sitting in for the one and Only Benjamin Albright, joined.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
By my good friend Nick Ferguson. How are you tonight, Nick.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
What's going on, mister Grant Smith.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm feeling good.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It feels weird to be sitting on the other side
of the glass, but I am thankful for the opportunity,
and what a time to do it for the first time,
you know, with the Broncos on the eve of a
playoff berth for the first time since the Super Bowl
winning team back in twenty fifteen.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's cool to be in here with you.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah, it's better to be on I guess, the positive
side of things opposed to be on the negative side.
But you and I have somewhat done this before you
take it for granted podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Yeah, it's one of my favorite episodes we ever got
to do with the Love Doctor. Nick Ferguson talking relationships and.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Zach doesn't know about the Love Doctor.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Zach, you don't know about the Love Doctor. This is
news to me.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I'm not familiar.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
Nick.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
If you need any relationship advice ever, you asked the
one and only Nick Ferguson.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I got you covered. I have to.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I'll follow up on that you're in a relationship, right,
I am long term relationship.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
How long you guys been together?
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Eight years?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Now?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Eight years? Wow? I no time to put a ring
on that finger.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Eight years?
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
How you're twenty five? Uh yeah, yeah, so since high school?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
High school sweethearts, yeah, yeah, senior year, the different high
school stough.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
You know what's happening exactly, right, man, you know what's
happening exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I know what's happening, yes, And I'm working.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
I'm working on things, okay, but hey, don't feel too rushed.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
You're so young.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
But if it's the right one, you got to put
a ring on it. I learned this lesson. I was
with my now wife for seven years before I popped
the question.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Yeah, here's my advice to you, and I give this
to everyone all the time. Anytime we are forced into
something we don't like it as people, but more poorly,
it's men. We just we just don't that's the truth.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
And I rather know that.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Okay, Well, I'm making this long term agreement in front
of family and in front of God, and I know
that I want to do it right. So you have
to make sure that you want to do it, because
everyone's going pressure you wanted to decide it goes start
looking at clogs and you know what, no, no, no, no,
we don't live by clock. The only people that matter
(02:12):
you and your girl.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
That's it. Yeah, that's about it feels right there.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You go, look you are you are smarter than your age.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
And when you need to go get that love relationship advice,
go check out that Nick Ferguson episode of the Taking
It for Granted Podcast. And speaking of podcasts, the iHeartRadio
app well, they're going to be celebrating the podcast as well.
KOA celebrates the best in podcasting at our twenty twenty
five iHeartRadio Podcast Awards live at south.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
By Southwest Monday, March tenth.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Podcast fans celebrate your favorites by voting at iHeart Podcast
Awards dot com. Sadly, the Taking It for Granted Podcast
not named, not nominated.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
What I know? How did that not happen? Grant?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
I don't know, Maybe it's because I've been on the hiatus,
but I do have it. Celebrating the five year anniversary,
picking up on Monday with an episode with my brother
and we got a big show coming up tonight. We've
got the legend Rick Lewis joining us at six thirty.
Ryan Michael going to take us inside the Numbers at
seven oh five, and Ryan O'Halloran, who used to be
with the Denver Post now working for the Buffalo News,
(03:18):
going to join us at seven thirty five. And you
know how Ben likes to rebrand the show every once
in a while. You know, it was Playoffs country Tonight
the other night. Yes, tonight is positive, Country Tonight positive.
You know, I know you're a big positivity guy.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yes, I am. I mean I try to balance the equation,
the math equation with Ben sometimes.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah, well it's hard to balance out the web blanket
all bright. Yeah, there's a reason he had that name.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
It is very difficult with Ben sometimes. And I tried
to get being a somewhat turn the corner, if you will. Yeah, well,
sometimes he loves to, uh backpedal.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
What's so that?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I always I wonder if he played dB himself at
any point, because he does a lot of backpedaling.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yeah, Well, he's a he's coming around a little bit.
I think, you know he's he's he said he put
the wet blanket in the dryer.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
He did predict the Broncos to get nine wins.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
This year, So I got to give him credit on that,
but it's nice to be sticking to the positives. And
I told Ryan Michael, I texted him earlier this week,
when I knew he was going to be joining us tonight,
that I only want positive stats on the Broncos tonight
because we're going into this game as an underdog. You know,
no one in the national media really thinks that we're
going to win this game, but I have a sneaking
(04:32):
suspicion that it's going to be a lot closer than
a lot of the people think.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
If there was one game over the weekend that I
figured that could be, it could be an upset alert
and really shocking it is. In fact, this Broncos team,
and the way I look at it, grant you don't
want to oversell it and you don't want to undersell
it at the same time, right and here, and Here's
(04:57):
what I mean, because when you start to look at
the matchup, you can make a case either way for
either team.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
But I'm thinking if you.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Take a deeper dive into it, obviously I understand why
most people are looking at Buffalo based on who they
have at the quarterback position, but I think they're undervaluing
what the Buffalo Bills can do from a receiving standpoint.
As I was driving in, I was listening to the
guys on the Sports Zoo as they were talking about
(05:29):
how the Buffalo Bills their receiving corps were not the
Cincinnati Bengals, and he got me to thinking, and I said, well,
I don't think the guys really thought that through.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
And what I mean by that is.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
In that game, Jamar Chase didn't have one of those
historic games where he had a lot of explosive plays.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, without him pretty much in check, that's.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Right, And it was like kind of a zach Teller
formula of slow and conservative and methodical. But they converted first,
i mean third downs, that was kind of the thing.
And they moved the ball down the field in the
methodical way, in the way that we hadn't seen Cincinnati
moved the ball down the field.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
They're all about explosive place exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So that's why I'm like, I don't know, fellas, because
you're undermining some of the receivers that Buffalo like they have.
And granted I get it, I understand why. From the
guy's standpoint, you're not dealing with a lot of household names.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Grant right, the only one that was a big name
before was Stefan Diggs and he's gone now and he's gone.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Well, this is the beauty of the playoffs at this
point of the year. Yeah, you have teams with all
these star names, but it's usually not the stars that
typically rise to the top. It's those guys that no
one even knew.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
This is where the people make them make names for them.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
There you go, that's where you make names for yourself.
And Josh Allen with him being the captain of the plane,
he can move pieces around and what Buffalo what they
do is what I like since they don't have a
lot of big household names. Ball distribution, Yep, they move
the ball around. So if you're thinking, okay, well we're
(07:14):
gonna stop this guy, they're go like, okay, well we're
gonna give it to this guy, this guy and this guy.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
And arguably, I mean not even arguably, the Bills offense
is better this year without digs because they're able to
spread the ball around and Josh Allen doesn't feel like
he has to get the ball to one receiver no
matter what, because you know, Stefan Diggs. You're gonna hear
from him if he doesn't get the ball. But now
you've got all these guys that haven't made a name
for themselves yet, that aren't worried about that. They just
(07:39):
want to win games and help out the team the
way they can. And Josh Allen looks so much freer
as a quarterback this year.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
And this is why football is the greatest team sport ever, right,
because yeah, you have your household name guys, but then
you get the sprinkle of these guys and no one
knows that they're trying to make a name for themselves.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
Just go back for a second.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
When Tyreek Hill left Kansas City went to Miami, everyone
was like, oh, it's over, it's over. Yes, it's time
to beat the Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
And then they won another Super Bowl and then another
one as well.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
They're trying to win. They're trying to win the third
one in a row. But the idea is that as
a quarterback, sometimes you have a safety net, a reliable
blanket if you will, someone you can go to because
they're all reliable. In the case of Patrick Mahomes, is
Travis Kelsey. Where you look at Josh Allen. Some would
(08:40):
say that it's his tight end, that's right, but they
still got Dawson Knox, and they got a variety of different.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Guys, And man, how dangerous is Shakiro when he gets
the ball in his hands.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I'm glad you brought that up because this whole idea
listening to the guys on the sport too.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Well, there's no Jamar Chase.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
You might not need him. It's great to have one
of those guys, but each guy understanding his own individual role.
And once again the reason why football is the best
team sport because it calls on a team, not an individual.
Even though at the end of the Super Bowl every
single year with exception I believe of Super Bowl fifty
(09:21):
when Bond was able to kind of I'm going to
Disney World. But the whole idea is that everyone hangs
on this idea that everything resides with the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
No, it's not. Is it part of a puzzle, Yes,
it's part of the puzzle. It's not the only piece.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
It's not the center piece, it's not the corner piece.
It is a piece.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Well, another big piece of the puzzle for the Buffalo
Bills is their running game. James Cook and Josh Allen
with his feet. How big of an issue do you
think James Cook's running ability is going to present to
the Broncos defense.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
It's going to be a huge deal.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
But for this this particular game, or when I look
at running backs, it's.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Not just about their running ability.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
For me, and I'm speaking as a guy that played
on the defensive side of the ball and a coach
from the defensive side of the ball, it's about that
running backs versatility. Because everyone always talks about when it
comes to running back, run the ball, run the ball.
Now it's about touches, pimping, yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
It's touching, screen, game whatever, it makes you.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Think about it in the form of fantasy football, right,
if you're in the PPR league, it's about.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Points for reception exactly.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
And idea is, how can you get that runner more touches,
more involved catches, catches on a perimeter where you got
one on one with the safety or a linebacker, or.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
You kind of put him in.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
A position where you isolate.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
One on one on coverage.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Yeah, or even when Josh Allen starts scrambling around when
the play breaks down and he's got that little safety
valve James Cook. Yeah, and just drop it off for
a fifteen to twenty yard game.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Right, Because what happens in that sense he's moving around,
everyone's dropping in coverage. So now you have linebackers who
are about four or five yards away from a receiver that's
sitting down or James Cook. So you give it to
James Cook. You give them an opportunity to turn around,
see up field, see what the defenders are. I'm gonna
(11:17):
tell you'uble amen, I don't care who you are. Steve
Atwater will tell you this. Champ will tell you this
as well. Open field tackling is the hardest, especially when
you're looking around like where are my buddies, myself?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
And then one move and you're looking silly.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yes, And this is why I think when I look
at the Broncos and how the Broncos have been uneffective
as far as in effect of probably better words, using
their running backs.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
To me, that's where you use your running backs.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Use your running backs in that particular way, isolate them.
Like if you say, okay, well Bo's in a shotgun
and he realizes their man coverage, right, well, you got
to back offset to your left. If you notice a
matchup you want, you move him over to your right
hand side. You already have a receiver motion down inside
the numbers right, so now you can use that wide
(12:16):
receiver who's motioned down or aligned to pick that linebacker
and coverage and get your guy on the flat right
now he's looking up field.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Now you can get vertical.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
And I think that's something that's an area where we
haven't really utilized it that much this year, and I
think that's something you know, Javonte has kind of been
designated to that third down back because he's a great
in past protection, but that's.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Something that you could use him for.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I mean, he's been great catching the ball and running
after the catch.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
I would love to see more of that this week.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
And once again that's why for me, it's about taking
your game plan, whether you're an offensive defensive coordinator, look
at some of your own tendencies. Because this is the
time of the year. You need self scout yourself. Your
parent is watching you, you need to watch yourself and say, well,
we're going into the playoffs, what are some of the
(13:07):
tendencies we like to do inside the red zone or
in this certain personnel group.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Break those Tennessees because.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Your opponent is thinking third and one. Here the Broncos
are coming on eleven personnel and they have Adam Truttman
or Lucas crawl inside ty or betty.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Ed Nate Atkins.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Oh we know what's coming. Like, here's this whole thing
where it looks like they're gonna run one way and
come back the oppositive way. I mean when I play
here for Mike Shanahan, they had a similar play and
it was called they called it crossfire.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
So it was like a misdirection.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
You get everyone thinking outside soon, but you got to
set it up and you get the linebackers overflowing and
then that running that fullback hides or the tight end
and he comes out the back door right. That's why
it was a thing of beauty watching Jake.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Plumber run the boots and keeps right.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It's the skuy And we haven't really seen Sean Payton's
offense do a lot of that.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, But I think Dave Logan made a great point
on KOA Sports earlier today. He said, Sean Payton, with
his reputation of being, you know, an offensive genius in
the NFL, this is a great opportunity for him to
break some of those tendencies that he's been doing all year,
his safety nets that he's gone to and third and shorts.
This is a great opportunity to prove again why he
(14:27):
is a step above most offensive play callers in the league,
and like you said, breaking some of those tendencies and
maybe throwing a little wrinkle in something that we haven't
seen yet this year.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Well, the whole thing about that, because we hear that
term thrown around a lot, you know, offensive genius. Just
like another term that I dislike, Oh, elite quarterback. Well
what the hell does that mean? I mean an elite quarterback?
Please break that down for me. But these are the
games where you have to be able to show that
(14:57):
you are that guy, right b Not my name alone,
you have to show it. This is the opportunity you
get a chance to display it. And if there was
something somewhere that Sean Payton wrote on a napkin, somewhere
sitting in the airport just just thinking of stuff, this
is the time.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
To run it.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
One of those plays he drew up.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yes, this is the time to do it that you
never thought that you would never run. This is the
time you know why all the pressures on Buffalo.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Yeah, and there's been some great quotes this week from
Broncos players about being the underdog, and we'll get to
that later. But earlier you mentioned von Miller, and I
don't you saw his comments about facing the Broncos. I
think he posted him on your Instagram or your Twitter page.
But if listeners haven't heard him yet, I want to
play it for him.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
It's all.
Speaker 6 (15:46):
Look, I can't even start to play a delusion of his.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Hatred or I can't even start to play that game.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
That I would put myself so far in a place
that's not even close to being in reality, that would
be it would be hurtful to the way I want
to play. I love those guys. I love everything about
the Denver Broncos. I paid close attention to the Denver Broncos.
Can't even start to play that.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
It's the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
I want to win.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I got it's none, but it's none but love.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
But those those small three to four second verse when
I'm playing in the game, that's sixty minutes when I'm
out there, I want to win. I want to win
the game. I want to I don't want to be
the Denver Broncos. It's all love at the end of
the day, but those small three to four second verse.
I gotta go through these guys to get where I
want to go, and it's kind of it's kind of weird,
but that's that's just how crazy that the NFL is
(16:36):
in the universe is.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
So instead of trying to fight it, I.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
Just am brace and it's a it's a cool event,
you know, to be able to play against this new
and improved you know Denver Broncos. The last time that
they made the playoffs was you know, the last time
last time we won.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
A super Bowl.
Speaker 6 (16:52):
So it's a full circle moment and it's nothing but
love and respect for the Denver Broncos and Broncos.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Country for sure. I thought that was a great answer
from Vaughn. What is what were your thoughts on it?
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Well, I thought Bond should said what I would have said.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Well, what you have said, Well, if.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
You play long enough, you get a chance to play
against former teams, teams that let you go, teams that
for whatever reason, felas though you were no longer capable
of doing what you needed to do. But from a
plus standpoint, but I understand that that's the business aspect
of it. But for me, it's like I got to
go to a dark place, right, because it's like I'm
playing against a relative. There's so much love on that
(17:30):
side of the ball, so much love for the organization,
So you have to do something to create somewhat.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Of an enemy in your own mind, just like Michael Jordan.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Yes, and it's no dispect for the Broncos. And Bonn
would never do that because he is that type of player.
But I've been in bon shoes when I played against
the New York Jets right after they let me go,
and I had to mentally go to what I'm going
to call the dark place. Who play against a guy
(18:02):
that I looked up to and Curtis Martin to be
able to tackle the guy that I call my friend, right,
how do I do that?
Speaker 2 (18:09):
You got to sweat your mindset?
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Can I Can I play this game in the physical
manner and still be cool with him?
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Can I?
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Can I do that? So I didn't talk to any
of the guys leading up to the game. I didn't
even go chop it up before the game ghost yes,
call what every was? Yes, because I wanted to make sure,
my mind was right because I wanted to play well
against him. Vaughn wants to play well against the team,
and like he said, the Broncos now staying in his
way of getting to a super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Well, and that's why I loved PS two's answer about
facing bon Miller.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
I know von owes this special place in his heart
of the Broncos Country because.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
You know, he sees one of his super Bowls here
his all exactly. He's cut Broncos Country.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
So it's gonna be a huge game for him, I believe.
But I'll tell him.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
I'll tell him as now like a Shaw Now. You
know he has time and carry back in his days.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Bizars coming out.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
So but I won't be the kitchen nowhere to re seniors.
See that's the mindset switch you were talking about.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
No matter how much I look up to this guy,
no matter how much he means to Broncos Country, it's
our time.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Now, Yes, it's our time, to Sean.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
You had yours, now is mine Now it's tign for
me to grab the brass ring.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
And that's the mentell you need to have.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Well, we're off and rolling on Broncos Country tonight. I'm
Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin all Bright along with
Nick Ferguson. We've got the one and only Rick Lewis
joining us next Tom Broncos Country Tonight.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
With Rick Lewis and.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
I'm Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright, joined by
my good friend Nick Ferguson, and our Broncos broadcast starting
at seven am on Sunday, kickoff eleven am Mountain Time
as a Broncos take on the Bills in their first
playoff appearance in Super Bowl fifty twenty fifteen, almost spend
ten years since they been in the playoffs, and our
(20:02):
Broncos broadcast of that game brought to you by Common
Spirit Health. Rick, how are you my friend?
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Hey, two of my favorite people, Nick Ferguson and Grant Smith.
And what the funk Grant? You're driving the show?
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yes, I am took you by surprise.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Huh yeah, man, that is so cool.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Oh, thank you?
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Congratulations. Man.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Well, you know what, rake a big game coming up
on Sunday, and I'm going to say it obviously it's
the biggest game that the Broncos have played.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
In about nine years. You've had a chance.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
To kind of watch the Broncos all season process this
game against Buffalo. Is there anything from a Buffalo standpoint
or a Broncos standpoint that scares.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
You, Well, yeah, Josh Allen, that's pretty scary. For one thing,
he's probably gonna be the MVP of the league. And
he's a guy that can hurt you on the ground
and he can hurt you through the air. In fact,
that offense is the only offense in NFL history to
(21:13):
score thirty touchdowns in the air and on the ground.
It's unbelievable. And you know, they don't turn the ball over.
They've had just eight turnovers, which ties an NFL record.
So these guys, obviously are playing at a very high level,
are going to be a tough team to beat, especially
(21:33):
at home in Buffalo where it's going to be football weather,
Buffalo football weather, cold, chance of snow, all of that.
So that is scary, Nick. But you know, going into
the game, I feel like the Broncos are playing with
house money. I think all the pressures on Buffalo. You know,
(21:53):
the Broncos just need to show up, play their game
with intensity. Hope they can put tog together a good
game plan. Hopefully, if they can play well in all
three phases of the game. I think you guys would agree.
I think they can beat anybody, Yeah, even the Buffalo Bills.
And if they can, if they can force a couple
(22:14):
of turnovers on Josh Allen, which hardly anybody's been able
to do this year, you got to You got a
shot to beat this team, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Flipping over to our quarterback, bow Knicks, rookie quarterback going
on the road to Buffalo to play in his first
playoff game, Sean Payton said earlier this week that he's
not worried about bow Knicks in a big game.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Are you worried about him?
Speaker 5 (22:37):
No, I'm not. I think he's the real deal. He
played in a lot of big games in college, and
let's face it, he's played in a lot of big
games here in the NFL and his rookie year, a
lot of primetime games. And really, when you look at
those three games down the stretch Niket four go back
to the indie game, all four of those were like
(22:59):
playoff games, and he won two. They went two and
two down that stretch. So I think bow Knicks is
going to be comfortable. I like bow Knicks to have
a good game, you know, I want to see him
make plays with his legs. I want to see him
designed runs, RPOs, everything that he can do. They're going
(23:22):
to have to utilize that in this game, and hopefully,
I'm hoping that Sean Payton maybe has a couple of
tricks up a sleep. You know, you've got a week
to prepare for this game, and Sean Payton's been a
head coach for a long time. Everybody knows his tendencies
when he gets in the red zone or down at
the goal line, or when he needs a third down.
(23:44):
I hope he's got a couple of curveballs that he
can throw at that defense at least early in the
game for some big plays. And I got a feeling
that could happen.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Rick, It's funny that you bring that up, because before
he joined us, Grant and I were talking about that
and that was kind of was kind of one of
my keys to the game. Can Sean Peyton break his
own tendencies? And you know how difficult that is when
you've been doing something for so long and you are
so dialved in on those couple of things. I mean,
(24:18):
do you really think, listen, let's really cut to the chase,
right We've been having this conversation all season long. Do
you really think that it is possible for Sean Payton
to develop new spots for this particular game against Buffalo,
because the saying is always, well, you know, a leopard never.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
Changes his spots.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Can't Sean Peyton change his spots?
Speaker 5 (24:45):
Man? That's a great question. You know, you obviously want
to lean on what you do well on both sides
of the ball, and I think they will do that.
But I think when it comes down to a critical
third down or even fourth down, or a critical play
in the red zone, I do think he'll have a
(25:05):
couple of things that he will change up this week
and break those tendencies. And I think he's going to
have to do that, and I think they're going to
have to take those type of chances to win this
football game. Like I said, you're playing with house money.
You just go out there and play football, man, and
you can afford to take some chances because nobody thinks
(25:26):
you're going to win this football game. What are the
nine and a half point dogs. I believe maybe even
ten by now, but remember they went in there last
year seven and a half point underdogs with Russell Wilson
at quarterback and shocked everybody. I'm monday of that football
won that game. This Broncos team is better than that
Broncos team. Now, on the other hand, this Bills team
(25:47):
is also better that. Here's one thing that I think
can happen in this game. You know, if Broncos are
the only team that hasn't had a one hundred yard
rusher the entire season, give it or not, the only team,
this could be the game they have that one hundred
yard rusher. I've talked to the guys at WGR and
(26:11):
Buffalo this morning, that's the Buffalo Bill's flagship radio station,
and they told me, they said, hey, man, you can
run on this team. And they said a lot of
teams that run on this team, and they're not very
good stop on the run. And that's what they were
worried about. They were worried that the Broncos are going
to come in there Sunday and run on them. Because
(26:32):
if the Broncos can do that, now you control time
of possession and you keep Josh Allen on the bench.
I think that gives them their best chance to win
the game.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Speaking of coaches, we were talking about Sean Payton maybe
changing some of his tendencies, and of course Sean McDermott
been to the playoffs quite a few times now. Sean Payton,
of course, we all know his history here in Broncos country.
Who do you think has the coaching advantage in this
game on Sunday?
Speaker 5 (26:58):
I think Sean Payton does. And for you know, one
of the reasons is all the pressure's on McDermott. You know,
imagine if the if the Broncos upset the Bills, McDermott
probably loses a job. He's got a ton of pressure
on him, and he's got the loaded team and he's
got the MVP quarterback. So I think that alone, you know,
(27:21):
takes the pressure off of Sean Payton, puts it all
on McDermott and Josh Allen in the Bills. And this
is one of the reasons why I think the Broncos
have at least a puncher's chance to win this football game.
So no, I think it's going to be on mcgermott
and the Bills all right, right.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Really quickly this They're going to run game for just
a second. Josh Allen has five hundred and thirty one
yards on the ground. That's more than any runner on
the Broncos roster. That's Bo Nicks or any of the
running backs. Now, how would you think the game plan
will be to stop Josh Allen passing but from running
(28:02):
the ball.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
Yeah, and you know, Nick, that's going to be I
think the biggest challenge for them. They're gonna have to
be disciplined and not let Josh Allen escape. Make him
a pocket passer. You know, he's he's not the most
accurate thrower in the league. Especially if you can keep
him in the pocket, and also if you can put
(28:26):
some pressure on him, just kind of rabble him a
little bit. He's a tough guy to sack. They don't
give up a lot of sacks, and he's a big dude,
But just pressure him, knock him around a little bit,
and keep him in the pocket because he can kill
you with his legs, especially down on the red zone.
They get down to the ten yard line, the nine
dog line, and you got to make sure that Josh
(28:48):
Allen doesn't get in the end zone running the football.
That's the scariest thing about him in my opinion. And
you know, he doesn't necessarily have a whole lot of weapons.
You know, I don't think his white receivers or anything special.
He's got a couple of good tight ends. And that's
a worry as well, because I think our inside linebackers
(29:09):
have really struggled in past coverage. I don't know how
you look at that, Nick, but I do think that's
been kind of a weak spot on our defense. So
that's another thing to watch in this game, if our
linebackers can hold.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Up in pass pro Rick, one final thing with you
before we let you go and have to hit traffic here.
But some of my favorite memories I've made since moving
here to Colorado from Ohio have been going to see
your band, The Rick Lewis Project perform a couple times.
One of my most memorable ones was you singing simple
Man right after you losing your dad, and my dad
happened to be with me in the crowd at the
(29:43):
barbecue fast down at in power Field, and I'll never
forget that moment. You got a couple gigs coming up
here in the next couple months.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Can you tell us about them?
Speaker 5 (29:51):
Yeah? Man, love to see you come out again. Grant's
February one of the Colorado Motorcycle Expo that will be
at the Coliseum, and then March first, we're playing with
the Freddie Jones band that had a couple of hits
in the nineties. That'll be at the Wild Goose in Parker.
(30:12):
Looks like it's going to be a big year for
RLP and I got to get Nick out to a
gig too. Love to get you out there. Nick.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Yes, I definitely have to get out to one myself,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
We gotta get Nick on the cowbo or the Triangle
or sometime we'll.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Get and play something. You know, what all Nick has
to do is come out and be Nick. He's the
coolest cat in Denver. Man. You come out with those
shades on, and I thought that, you know, one of
your fancy hats. That's all you gotta do. Man, you
don't have to do anything. You can just stand up
there and look cool.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
Hey, I can do that. I can do that really well.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Nick Ferguson never lacking in style and neither is the
one and only Rick Lewis.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
You can hear him on the call on Sunday. He's
the broncos color analyst. Rick.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Thanks as always, man, I love you guys, thanks for
having me on. He I love you too, man. All right,
well that's Rick Lewis. We'll react to that when we
come back. Rick Lewis the funk Master. I actually got
my introduction introduction to funk.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
Music through Rick Lewis.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Yeah, we used to.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
We used to do funky Fridays back when I produced
a show for him and got me to be a
huge fan of funk music.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Yes, well, we'll funk it up.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Chris Smith filling him for Benjamin Albright on Bronco's Country Tonight.
That voice you heard funking it up is the one
and only Nick Ferguson. I thought Rick had an interesting
point about defending Josh Allen. You had a great question
about trying to stop him and his running ability. We
had Nick Benito on KAWI Sports earlier today and Ryan
(31:48):
Edwards asked him a similar question about defending Josh Allen
and here's what he had to say.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
Josh Allen bo I mean, obviously, he's one of the
better quarterbacks in the league. He can make all the
throw he can do so much with his legs.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
I mean, there's so much.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
That he can do on the field. So I mean
our job is going to be tough this week.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
But I think you know VJ will have a great
plan for us, and and the guys are really eager
to go out there and play nick.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
If you're a VJ, what's your game plan?
Speaker 3 (32:15):
The game plan is telling everyone to just kind of
make sure you know your laying distribution, no delaying discipline
where if you edge rusher and you're getting upfield, ideas,
don't allow Josh Allen to get outside the pocket. And
I know that's easily said than done, because guys get
upfield and sometimes they get so eager to get to
(32:36):
sack the quarterback they get outside their rush lane and
when those tackles put their hand on that low hip
and they just run you by, it opens a kind
of organic chasm where whether it's the C gap or
the D gap for either the running back of the
quarterback to escape, because it's about those escape hatches, understanding
where the escape hatch is and want to make sure
(32:59):
that you were not rush up feel and listen to
that is like you gotta be careful to grand because
you don't want to get into this mush rush situation
where you're rushing but you're still watching the quarterback, but
you're not really trying to get to the depth of
the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (33:13):
No, get your eyes off the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Rook, try to get to it.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Make Josh Allen feel you.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
And then once he starts to feel you, be able
to kind of play with your hands and your eyes
and make plays on him as long as he steps
up inside. Now allows the linebackers and other players to flow.
But he gets outside of the pocket like a Lamar Jackson,
the Broncos, a Facet or Kyler Murray or Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (33:40):
That's where those types of guys.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Can hurt you.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
I was thinking about this earlier today, and I want
to get your thoughts on it later, but I was thinking,
you know, Nick Bonito having a heck of a year,
you know, thirteen sacks or thirteen and a half's name
to it, All Pro Team. I mean, it's been an
incredible year. But he's so he's such a freak athlete.
He's so fast, he's so smooth, said on display in
that Indianapolis Colts game when he took that fumble recovery
(34:04):
and quotations that was really at pick six.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Yeah, we see how athletic he is.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
I am thinking maybe we use him as a spy
on Josh Allen, but I want to get your thoughts
on that later.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
We got to hit a break here. We've got Ryan
Michael coming up next.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
We're going to go inside the numbers. Positive Numbers from
Ryan Michael. I'm Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright
on Broncos Country Tonight, joined by Nick Ferguson.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
We'll be right back after this short break.
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