Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Missed any of that.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
You always go to Broncos, Country Tonight, dot Com, slash podcast,
or wherever you get your podcast, Apple, iTunes, Spotify, totally
Free awesome, my heart radio app cooverer did not nail
it there, Grant always drafts that nailed it. Uh, We're
gonna head right on out to the uh kaway commispar
the hotline. The I'll bringing our guy Ryan Michael at
the Ryan Michael on the Twitter machine. Ryan still still
reeling from a Best Denver Media account loss. Uh So
(00:24):
we got a rashim about that. Since Nick and I
are still in still in the polling. Nick and I
are still in it, but we're we're there fighting for you, Ryan.
We're carrying on your name and your honor.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I appreciate that, you know, I would say, you know,
it feels good to be nominated to make the top
sixty four. I got through one round down to the
top thirty two. So I'll keep pegging away at it.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Next year.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
He'll be a sweet sixteen guy. He's building the program.
He's building the program. It's so we're doing. I always
love having Ryan on get a chance to talk about,
you know, the data, what's going on with the quarterbacks right,
of course, the contributor to the Pro Football Hall of
Fame and his has worked with professional football teams before. Ryan,
As we look at this this first game, I didn't
think it was particularly flattering for the Broncos offense on
(01:05):
several levels. Before we get into what was your initial
impression of the Broncos against the Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Well, my initial impression is that it was disappointing. I
believe I had Seattle at winning twenty eight to twenty four,
so you know, twenty six twenty was close. I think
your prediction was even closer. So although the final score
was in the ballpark, very much of what I was anticipating,
I don't think any of us were expecting the offense
to struggle as much as it did, so I feel
(01:33):
a little deflated on that end. But it's only one game,
so yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Ran, it's only one game, but there was a lot
of expectation based on what so many fans saw bo
Niggs in the preseason. Do you think the criticism that
he experience after Week one is fair?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Not at all. The box score numbers were horrific, Nick,
so there's really no way to skate around that. When
you adjusted for context. One of my favorite stats is
per Ben Baldwin. His Twitter handles at Ben b Baldwin
is adjusted EPA per play, and that's defined as EPA
adjusted for pass protection, receiver drops, dropped interceptions, luck on
(02:16):
interceptible passes, fumble recoveries, and interception returns given credit for
expected yards after the catch only, not accounting for the
defense's faced and by that metric, bo came in twentieth place,
bad but not horrific, and the adjustment relative to the
support of his teammates was the second biggest adjustment upward.
(02:37):
Only Will Levis had had a greater adjustment meeting a
tougher playing situation. So the box score numbers were horrific.
Even the adjusted numbers are still below average. But it's
one game, so there's not much to read into it.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Were there any statistical standouts for the Broncos in that
supporting cast, Now, there were some highlights.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Certainly, Devon caught eight receptions off of eight targets, didn't
put up a lot of yards to take, twenty two
of them were yards after the catch. Josh Reynolds had
five catches for forty five yards, Three of them were
first downs, what's connected three or three on field goals
and one to one on the pat One of my
favorites was Riley Moss twelve total tackles, which is the
(03:15):
second highest mark in Denver Broncos franchise history for a cornerback.
Only Tamp Bailey on one occasion had produced thirteen tackles,
so that was certainly good to see. And of course
Alex Singleton with an interception, nine total tackles and a
tackle for a loss. There were some standouts and it
was a competitive game, so I think it's important not
to lose out of those. Well.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Once again, going back to Bow because obviously the topic
conversation has a lot to do with the quarterbacks, since
he is the guy who's supposed to character team forward.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Were there any statistical numbers.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
That you can say throw out there that make fans
change their mind about what they think about Bo right now?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I don't know if there were any nick from the
game against Seattle that by themselves is going to get
anybody too jazzed up right now. I would say, if
you're digging for positives, I would note that he was
better in the second half than he was in the
first half. He completed twelve of twenty two passes and
took two sacks in the first half. He really turned
it around in the second half, completed fourteen of twenty
although they were very short completions and he didn't take
(04:20):
any sacks. And that's something that we've been talking about
over the past few months, is his proficiency in avoiding facts.
He was sacked twice on forty four dropbacks. That puts
him at around four and a half percent sack percentage.
That's ninth in the NFL for one week. And sack
percentage is a statnic that I always look to as
an indicator of quarterbacks with high football IQ and good instincts.
(04:41):
Trevor Lawrence, who had a disastrous box score rookie season,
still finish in the top ten and sack percentage. He's
continued to do that every year of his career. So
if you're looking for something positive, look at sack percentage.
Look at the completion percentage going up in the second half.
And I know Ben's been touting his wheels and the
mile prower. There was a number that you, Ben, I
don't remember exactly what it was, but there's a few
(05:02):
positives for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, Bo Dix had the second fastest carry in the NFL,
the highest top speed second Higt top speed. I believe
it was behind Tank Dell. Dell had a carry that
went slightly faster, but over twenty miles an hour.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Bonies can run.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And you know, something that bothered me a little bit
was how much we did not exploit that in that game.
It felt like, you'd, I understand not want to put
a quarterback out there and getting hurt, but I also
understand what to get him out there and getting comfortable
and make the defense respect them, respect those legs agreed.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And you know, we didn't see a lot of it,
but when he did take off, he produced I believe
it was a twenty three yard run in the first
play of that final drive there. Then there was an
incompletion and then four passes completed in a row before
the touchdown runs. So hey, that put us within six
and it's good to see that with the game on
the line, and then the way we wanted it to
didn't have a chance to touch the ball again, but
it wasn't a bad way to close out the game.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Well, does it give you a little optimism to know
that most of the quarterbacks who were drafted in the
first round and the first week, whether they played on
a row or they played at home, they did really
fare that well as far as passing yards. So is
that another bump statistically heading into Sunday against the Steelers
(06:17):
that Brocos fans can say, you know what, bow Knicks
could be primed for a breakout game against the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I don't know if I would I would go as
far as to say breakout game. I think it's going
to be better. But passing yardage totals across the league
were abysmal, and I think a lot of that is
the function of the lack of camp and preseason reps.
So you're going to get a little bit sloppy football
in Week one, a little bit sloppier than maybe it
should be.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
But that wasn't just Bonnicks.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
That was a number of quarterbacks, some reputable quarterbacks across
the league. So I think it'll jump up as the
week's carry on.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It's almost a diametrically opposite philosophy that Bow's going to
be up against. You're looking at you, you know the
kind of the zone that that Seattle was running, and
this is more of an attack demand type defense out
of Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Does that benefit a young quarterback? Is it? Is it
a detriment? Is it neutral? When when rolling this out
and rolling him out in the second.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Start, It's really going to depend on how efficiently they
execute that game plan. And you know, Sean Payton's offense
is really predicated upon timing pass accuracy. We're not going
to see bo Nick stretch the field. And you know,
one of the things I'd mentioned on Twitter earlier tonight
is just what the precedent of Drew Brees has done
(07:33):
for expectations in a Sean Payton offense. Because Drew, by
the latter third of his career, developed what I described
as absolute superhuman processing, pocket presence, accuracy skill set. The
combination of those things has never been seen by any
quarterback in the NFL outside of Peyton Manning. And the
way that Drew executed it was a bit different because
(07:54):
the system he ran with Sean Payton was very different
from what Peyton Manning ran in Indianapolis and later in
Denver or I think people have to understand for Drew
before the Labram injury, he already had elite football IQ
prestat processing speed, and above average pass accuracy, but that
torn Labraam forced him into a situation where you're taking
what was a below average arm and you're making it
(08:17):
almost unusable. And I don't think people appreciate just how
much preparation and all the work that he put into
that comeback. I'm talking twelve months a year of obsessively
refining his reaction time, his pass accuracy. He widened his
base to shorten his pass release. He methodically just reinvented
(08:37):
himself to lean on the strengths that he already had,
but to compensate for the weaknesses that he dealt with physically.
And now from what I'm hearing, he doesn't even throw
ball in the backyard with his kids using his right arm.
But he was still through to the end of his
career routinely completing seventy five percent or so of his passes.
So when you see that precedent, that skill set, even
with a weak arm, is something that would have been
(08:59):
a favorable match for a defense similar to what Pittsburgh
is running. I've been calling bon Nicks a poor man
screw Brees, but we're really comparing in the Superman and
I think we need to take the foot off of
the gas pedal a little bit and not box him
into that comparison. Specifically, it's going to be a struggle,
and I expecting the struggle against Pittsburgh. I just think
it's going to be a little bit better than what
(09:20):
we saw in Week one.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Well, let's talk about things that could help Bow not
struggle against Pittsburgh. And two of those things, am I
pinion have to do with getting Marvin Mimms more involved,
but also Josh Reynolds, who the team acquired from his
time in Detroit.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Is there a way in your mind.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Because I know I have one that they can get
these two guys involved that would actually take the pressure
off Bow and allow him to get some more plays
down the field.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
I think both of them have the skill set to
be able to deliver in those situations. We even saw
it for a play with Josh Reynolds in the season opener.
I think the trouble is going to be establishing the
do we have the scheme, the blocking, and the personnel
and the commitment to actually execute an effective running game,
because that's what's going to open up holes for Bo
to be able to nail people in some man to
(10:12):
mand situations to be able to do that with consistency
to walk away after four quarters and say this rookie
quarterback's produced well and had a good game. That means
to be seen. But I don't think that we're going
to be able to facilitate it without finding greater balance
and execution in the running game.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
So what is the answer for the Broncos to bounce
back in this game against the Steelers? Does it start
with the run game and establishing that? Is it creating
something different where what bo Nix is doing in the
passing game isn't as predictable and short? Is it a
combination of things? What would be the first thing you
would address with this offense?
Speaker 3 (10:47):
It's all the above, And with a rookie quarterback, it
never hurts to lean on a running game, but that's
going to be on our blockers and our running backs
to really gain positive yardage. There's nothing more frustrating to
me as an animal than seeing first down plays go
for negative one zero, one yard. When that happens, you're
forcing your quarterback into second and long and oftentimes third
(11:08):
and long situations that just put too much pressure on
a rookie quarterback to execute. But I would say for bow,
he needs to walk away from the pressure. There were
a number of snaps in his debut where he was
drifting towards the pressure and they didn't necessarily result in sacks,
but they definitely resulted in offensive plays that didn't go anywhere.
It's just going to be a matter of refining those
(11:29):
skills and executing with more consistency. I mean, I know
these are platitudes that don't really mean much until we
actually see them. It's a lot easier to say that's
what they should do. It a lot more difficult to
go out there and execute.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Well. I know we've talked land about the office side
of the ball and bowl knicks, but let's take a turn
and talk about the defense. Because the Broncos defense did
play much better in that second half. And you brought
up RILEYG. Moss and the number of tackles that he's made,
but also the guy who is the king of swinging
in a king of tackles, and now Alex Singleton.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
He was a guy that once again was in the
mix again.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Howard Singleton is phenomenal and to see everything that he
did from hauling in the interception to just he tackles
everybody to the site, and I didn't want to. I
wasn't sure if I was even going to mention this
on the air, Nick, because this might be a little
bit sore. So I hope that you can take it
with grace. But I just happened to be browsing the
Broncos all time list of solo tackles, and I'm seeing
(12:27):
Alex Singleton at two hundred and thirteen. I'm seeing you
at two hundred and nineteen. So if he keeps playing
the way down that list, my friend.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Oh wow, come on, Ryan, God.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
It's tougher for DB's to get those tackles.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It should be graded on a curve. Linebacker right should
be should be graded on a curve. Obviously. Do you
have to send him a cake?
Speaker 5 (12:50):
Though?
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Is there some kind of congratulatory Not that I'm moving
I'm aware of, but uh, I mean, to my credit, listen,
if I'm leading a team in tackles, that means a
D is really awful. That means offensive running backs are
getting twelve to fifteen yards downfield. So listen, I'm okay.
If I'm going down the list in this particular.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Way, Okay, Well, we'll keep an eye.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
We got Ferg Watch on the tackles we have Watch,
We'll get some theme music behind that crawler on the chiron.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Make that happen.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Ryan, upcoming game against the Steelers, say you got Justin
Fields on the other side.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I'm not been a big fan of his.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
I think it's a better outcome for the Broncos to
be facing off against him than Russell Wilson. We don't
know necessarily that Wilson won't play in that game. He's
obviously practiced last to days. But as you look ahead
to this thing, how good a chance you have the
Broncos winning the home opener here?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
You know, I have Pittsburgh twenty four to seventeen. But
just as I said last week, it's going to be
a very winnable game. And Ben, you know my thoughts
on Justin Field. So if we have a choice between
the old man version of Russell Wilson or a fresh
Justin Field, I'd rather face the fresh Justin Fields because
I don't I don't think very highly of him as
a quarterback. I think he is a tremendous playmaker. I
(14:02):
think he was a very good college football quarterback. But
I just don't see the processing speed and ability to
execute anything resembling structured offense. So I hope he gets
the start and I hope that we play well. We'll see.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Do you see any weaknesses.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
I know we're going into week two, but do you
see any weaknesses from your film watching that the Broncos
could possibly exploit When it comes to the Pittsburgh still
is defense.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
You know, as far as their defense, it's a very
different kind of matchup. As Ben had said earlier, I
think it's really going to be fleshing out that identity
and not changing the game plan at halftime. It's really
going to be about establishing that running game and then
executing the passing game. It's not about maintaining a pretty
completion percentage, because that doesn't mean anything if you're completing
(14:52):
a bunch of passes for one or two yards. But
it is important to be able to execute the offense
with consistency, and I think the completions build the confidence
of young quarterbacks. So if we can open things up
with a run game, I think it's going to open
up some opportunities for Gonicks in the middle of the field.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well, Ryan, we appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
As always, you guys want to find Ryan on Twitter
at the Ryan Michael. Give him some give him some
follow give him some love, and next year he's getting
to the Sweet sixteen of the media, the media poll.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Oh gee, thanks, This is what I This is.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
What I do for you. Mat We're building the brand,
We're building the program.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Here.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
This is what I'm doing. I'm getting these recruits. They're
hearing us now, we're getting them in.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I'm here for it.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Absolutely a right man. Look forward to talking to you
next week.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
So good take here, guys.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Ryan Michael is a contributor statistician unofficial official statistician here
at BCT contribute to Pro Football Hall of Fame. It
has been a coach in several professional leagues as well.
We always love having him on the show. When we
come back, Nick, we've got Cabrie Bibbs from CSU.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, you guys want to stay tuned for that. Kobrie
Bibs next Brockos County.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Tonight Special thanks to Steve Atwater, the Hall of Famer
(16:17):
joining us in the first hour.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
You guys missing of that.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
You go to Broncos Country Night dot Com, slash podcast
or wherever you get the podcast. Don't you guys just
get thinking stuff Michael Coover is getting that stuff up
there real quick for you. We're gonna run right out
to the KWA Common Spirital hotline though, and bring on
the Pride of Colorado stage former running back Capri Bibs.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Capri, how you doing to see me?
Speaker 5 (16:35):
I'm doing great. How you guys doing doing?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Doing pretty well? We got a little bit of a
game coming up here this weekend. You may or may
not have heard about. You may not be familiar with
this rivalry. It's interesting to me watching a lot of
videos coming out. You got a lot of guys Horton,
you know, talk a little bit of smack, say hey,
we should have we should have murdered these guys last year.
Is there a sense of you think there's a sense
of confidence with that CSU team going into this game?
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Uh? Absolutely, you know. And I was kind of talking
about this the other day with a couple of my buddies.
But just the way the universe kind of plays out,
it's like kind of Colorado State was kind of brought
back to life. Was seeing how Texas did Michigan and
then them coming back getting to win and now being
able to build from the game last year. I think
(17:19):
the CSU players weren't, you know, as confident as they
were this year, seeing that they really do have what
it takes to you know, beat that team and also compete,
you know, for something that's great, especially with Tory Horton
at the Rains too well.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
J Noville was talking about this matchup earlier on this
week and a couple of things he mentioned as far
as the culture that he's trying to establish up there
at with the Rams, and he mentioned it in this
particular way. He said, he's trying to build a team
that has grit, physicality, and fundamentals.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
When you watch this team right.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
After last week they got the win, but do you
think that they can those three characteristics in this game
hosting it at their home stadium?
Speaker 5 (18:07):
You know, that Ram that rivalry just in the hole.
I don't know if people are familiar with it privy
to coach Prime, you know, but that rhyme is that
rivalry has always been rich, you know, and so all
the Colorado people of the state know how rich this
rivalry is and how gritty this game just is. You know.
I don't think it doesn't really matter who the coach is,
(18:30):
you know, it comes down to a certain will the
players and a certain type of pride, you know, because
all their families watching. A lot of these kids are
Colorado born and raised, you know, so like this is
this is the biggest game of the year, you know.
He talking about the game used to be played at
sports authority empowerment, you know. So this game has always
always been a real deal, you know, and it's always
(18:52):
brought the best in every last every single player, you know.
So I think that's another thing that you're about to
see again. But I think CSU just has a lot
to bring to the table with that quarterback, wide receiver,
you know, and in the trenches. And they got a
stable of running backs too, you know, so they I
think CSU really has what it takes.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Yeah. I liked what I saw from him last year.
I like what Norvell's doing up there. It'll be interesting
to see if he continue to build a program. I
like that young quarterback man nick Leosi. Was he true
freshman last year or recher freshman?
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Yeah, yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
He's playing well.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Above his years as far as that kind of stuff goes.
Want to pivot a little bit, talk about the you know,
the Denver Broncos. I don't know if you got a
chance to watch it Seattle game last week. It's tough
for me watching it because I'm like, man, they they're
not getting a run game going for this young quarterback.
And you being a former running back, you've been a
former Broncos running back. What did you think of the
lack of attention to the run game and not really
(19:44):
running it seemed like with a purpose.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Yeah, you know, you know, just looking back on Sean
Payton's game. You know, in the previous years that I've
always watched Sean Payton play, He's always got the running
back involved, you know. So that's another question.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Na.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
You know, they're playing running back by committee, and at
some point you also got to see those running backs
almost step up in a way that demands the ball.
You know. I love a back that's like that, you know,
that says, hey, every time you give me the ball,
there's going to be something, you know, and it's gonna
look like something. Pi Checko reminds me of that from
the Chiefs, you know, like it's just that certain type
(20:22):
of attitude you know, you got to run with. It's
that certain type of swagger you know that comes in
as a running back. So I think Sean Payton is
also you know, needs little help, you know, in that
running back room. You know, I think what they have
going on now is cool, you know, but for what
they're trying to do, they need a dynamic running back
a Kamara of Reggie Bush. And you know all those
(20:44):
Pierre Thomas' is like Sean Payton's always had, He's always
had those those running backs hitting on a different type
of on a different type of level.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Well, Ben and I was talking about earlier in the
show that you know, when you play football, especially at
the running back position, it's all about establishing a rhythm.
And sometimes there is a significant rotation of backs in
because they do have a bevy of backs.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
How important is it as a.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Running back to kind of get yourself established in the
game before you kind of subbed out for someone else.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
And I mean, I'm opportunitist. You know. You can't ask
a guy like me that I'm a practice squad I
got I'm a doggy dog guy. Every time you hand
me a played I'm gonna eat, you know, like I'm
just bred different. When it comes to that type of thing.
You can't really enforce that on every running back. And
I guess that kind of just goes back to that
keynote that we kind of were talking we were talking
(21:40):
about earlier, like, you know, a running back has to
insert himself, like he has to show, you know that
he can come out, catch the ball, run the ball,
do all these things. Because if you start game planning
for these running backs and saying, hey, this is this
is the first and second down guy. All right, this
is only a third down guy. This guy is good
(22:00):
on the stretch, He's not good a like guys are
keen off on that and guys are way too smart
to have way too much film nowadays to be dealing
with it. Back that is only one dimensional, you know,
Like you have to be a type of running back
that can run in between the tackles and do everything
that is acquired. That's the backs that are having the
most access in the NFL right now.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, you see, the modern back is a bit of
a different skill set. You know, you don't see the guys,
I mean, you do see a few guys that are
bigger out there, but you don't see the Jerome bettest
running back out there anymore.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
You got to be a whatever back.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
You got to be able to catch the ball, go
between the tackles, take the stretch outside, take the toss whatever.
As we look at this, Sean Payton, though, has been
a guy who's rotated guys through Javonte's been.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Sort of the power guy.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
You get your leel, who's got the wheels to get
the outside and estimate was supposed to be that bowling
ball with knives.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
How do you adapt to that?
Speaker 2 (22:49):
As you know, how do you adapt to a head
coach who kind of has your pigeon hole? How do
you go out there and show them, hey, I can
do it all.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
I mean shoot every time you get in the game,
you know, and sometimes you as a running back, I noticed, uh,
just verbatim being in the game, and sometimes the other
guy gets tired or something. Maybe you get into three
players in a row. You got to make those plays
go then, you know what I'm saying, Like, you gotta
be that doggie dog. You got to make sure you eat.
And that's kind of like either running backs right now,
(23:17):
if you say, hey, I'm secure in the position that
I'm in, then be secure, you know. But then you're
also going to see a team that's gonna want to
come out and throw the ball for you two times
because security doesn't doesn't live well in the NFL, you know,
And they say that where NFL stands from now for long,
you don't care if you get paid. You gotta you
gotta attack it in a certain type of way in
(23:39):
order to get the certain type of response you want
out of out of your play, you know. So, I
think I've always done a good job of making my
opportunities count, you know. So, I'm just speaking on you know,
this personal experience.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Sorry, Well, when you think about what the Broncos gonna
face on Sunday being the Pittsburgh still is the way
they limped the linebackers get downhill and the way they
blitz As a running back, how do you prepare yourself
for or is there a way to prepare yourself for
that level of physicality, especially when that linebacker's coming blitzing
through that a gap.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Well, you know what a lot of things I've seen
last game two and like, like we talked about with
throwing forty two passes or something like that from a
rookie quarterback. We don't want to get into a thing
where we try to prove a playing with our quarterback.
I think I think we do still run the ball
versus team and we get some get some hats on hats,
and that's that's first thing first, you know, I think
the most successful runs you've seen out of Williams when
(24:36):
those linemen get hats on hats and at least get
a piece of him, because he's a dynamic guy and
he can do a lot more then, I think, than
what's being asked of him right now. And that's what
I'll honestly would if I was Sean Payton, I would
challenge that out of thirty three to be that all
round back and be a guy that can stay in
the game and do everything that's called up on the
(24:56):
offense to even give that quarterback a break so people
don't know when he's dropping back to pass and when
it's going to be a run or play action, you know,
and that also goes along with the back as well,
you know, knowing what type of back is in the game.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
One of the interesting things that I've come across is,
you know, for the last couple of years, that's decade,
decade and a half, it's been a passers league, right,
and everybody's been pivoting toward eleven personnel getting receivers on
the field and slinging the ball over the yard. But
the pendulum has started to swing back to the other
direction on the efficacy of the running backs. Yeah, everybody
gets lighter and you want to go more power, right.
We're starting to see that play out a little bit
(25:30):
in the league as you look at teams starting to
run the ball a little bit more, they're starting to
get a little heavier on offense and get back in
front of that pendulum. How do you, as a running
back feel about the game pivoting back towards the running
back being more valuable.
Speaker 5 (25:44):
It's hilarious to be because, you know, seeing all the
running back talks being d value. I want to say
a very unpopular opinion that may get me scolded a
little bit, but I honestly do believe that the running
back is the most difficult position on the football field,
especially if you're talking about a talented running back, not
a one dimensional back. We're talking about the back that
(26:05):
you need to keep in first, second, and third down.
We're talking about a guy that's gonna have to block.
We're talking about a guy who's gonna have to catch
the ball and also run the ball, and not just
run the ball, run it very efficiently and be elite.
When you would actual receiver what to catch the ball
at point A or be good on the other end
after the catch, but no running back would have to
be you know all these things. I mean, like, look,
(26:28):
Christian McCaffrey. You can't possibly tell me that there's a
more valuable player for a football team than Christian McCaffrey.
That's what the power of having a great back is.
And I think seeing the NFL fall away from the
la Damian Tomlinson's, the Marshall Fawkes, the Priest Holmes, you know,
the Walter Payton's of the world, Barry Sanders. These guys
(26:50):
played every snap. These guys caught the ball, ran the ball,
did everything under the sun, you know so and by
them making backs and that being back for being a
one dimensional is also there. Try I think it's more
of a point that, yeah, we don't want to pay
these bags. That's more of just what it is, not
how much the running back is valuable to the game.
(27:13):
It's about the market and knowing that you got to
pay a quarterback two hundred and three hundred million dollars
right now, and knowing that if you have a back
like Christian McCaffrey, you should probably be paying him one
hundred and seventy million dollars because a guy like him
can change the whole dynamic of your complete offense.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
We're talking to.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Kapri Bibs, former Broncos running back and CSU Alum. I
have to ask you about something, and I don't know
if it's a sensitive topic to you, but I'm going
to ask it anyway.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
So, and within the Broncos organization.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
There is a ring of fan and at every college
they have a college Hall of Fame. Now I'm wondering
why is it that Capri Bibbs is not and the
CSU Rams.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Hall of Fame.
Speaker 5 (28:06):
Man, well, uh, it's kind of it's kind of mind
blowing the knee too. But you know, to see the
list of people that were kind of listed on there
and see the names, and to also know that I'm
also only football player in the program that holds every
record in his at his position. You know, another player
in that in school, in school history that's on that
(28:29):
list hold every record at their position or even sometimes
even a whole dir in general. And I'm the lone
holder of all records at my position, touchdowns, yards, yard
speci however, you want to have you on the market.
But to be in the Colorado Hall of Fame, it's sweet,
but you know it kind of doesn't make sense to
(28:49):
be in the Colorado Hall of Fame but not be
at my school's hall of Fame. But you know, hopefully
things work out. It's always God speed. I never thread
about nothing like that. I was like, God, handle it.
You know. Obviously, I'm human, so I can see things,
you know, I can feel things, you know, So obviously
that's where I would kind of just key on that.
But other than that, you know, I'm not frustrated at all.
(29:12):
You know, I know what I meant to that program.
I know how much that program meant to me. Helping
me get out of junior college, go to college, giving
me faith to go to college like Colorado say, has
been a huge for me. I know, I know when guys,
at this time, it'll be time.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Yeah, I'm talking again with Capri Bibbs, former Colorado State
running back, was with the Broncos, the Washington football team,
and the Packers.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
I believe all three in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
As we look forward to this rivalry game, get back
on CUCSUS looking for this rival gig game this weekend.
What what kind of predictions you have for us going
to this game?
Speaker 5 (29:46):
Man? You know what, I think it's going to be
a nail bier. I think it's going to be a
nail bier. But I say, I say, CSU pulls it out.
I say CSU pulls it out, you know, and if
it's not Neil, but I say, we take it by Tim.
We'll take about ten points. I'm gonna go ten points.
But that's just how I feel you.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Going out there on the limb right now with that one.
Speaker 5 (30:09):
Yeah, I really do. I feel like we take it
about ten, you know, And I think we keep the
train rolling for the for the Sanders, for the Sanders plan.
You know. I feel like, you know, everything that they're
building nowhere is cool and all, but you know, at
some point we got got to get down to the
nitty gritty to flash and all that. That's cool. But
(30:30):
you know, over at CSU, I know, we we believe
in real, real integrity, real real grit, you know, real grind.
You know a lot of things that the coach actually
talked about I can actually vouch for, like what's been
about that program with without the coach. You know, people
people that go to CSU have a certain swagger tool.
You can ask Jack Barrett that you know. You know,
(30:51):
former sack leader in the NFL. You know, Michael Gallops,
the Mashar Higgins. You know, we go out there and
we get money. You know, so no matter what it is.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Well, speaking of that, we got a couple of seconds
here remaining with you. But last year when this game
is played in Boulder, Lil Wayne Kim leading the team out.
So who's going to lead the team out? I mean,
I know you dabbling hip hop? Are you leading the
team out? Rapping coming out of the tunnel?
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Man?
Speaker 5 (31:24):
You know what? I know? Coach, you know, and he's real,
he's a real He's going to keep it. He's going
to keep it by a buck and keep it the
way they do things. You know, And I know the
focus that's been going on over there at CSU. They're
not taking this game lightly. They're not They're not joking
around at all. You know, they're ultra ultra serious. And
they're serious about their season too, you know, And I know,
(31:46):
see you may be serious about their season, but you know,
obviously you know, being serious, being serious for no other reasons,
you know, when other guys are being serious for life,
and I feel like you got to kind of and
at a certain point, you know, these guys are fighting
for Instagram, you know what I'm saying, these guys fighting
for you know, real spots. They're really trying to be somebody.
(32:09):
They're really you know, trying to put on their program.
You know. I feel like it's that's like it's a
little Juco behavior going on. I see you.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Well, I'm looking forward to this game. They went by
ten plus. Bro, I'm giving you flowers on Twitter. I'm
putting it out there. I'm saying you called it first,
and if they if they, if they lose, then I'm
also blaming you and saying I placed my best friends
on you, trying to get my money back.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
So crazy.
Speaker 5 (32:34):
We already underdogs coming in and I get to understand that.
But I know we're gonna do what we gotta do.
I know CSU is never it's never been a thing
to where anybody blows anybody out, yep. But I really
do just feel like CSU is just on that train
right now. Man. I just I don't know, we.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Got them in there Yep, we got it well, hopefully, hopefully,
hopefully it Lands has Capri bibs running back Colorado Steak.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
We got a break. Brokles cut her tonight. I empy
this
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Mhm
Missed any of that.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
You always go to Broncos, Country Tonight, dot Com, slash podcast,
or wherever you get your podcast, Apple, iTunes, Spotify, totally
Free awesome, my heart radio app cooverer did not nail
it there, Grant always drafts that nailed it. Uh, We're
gonna head right on out to the uh kaway commispar
the hotline. The I'll bringing our guy Ryan Michael at
the Ryan Michael on the Twitter machine. Ryan still still
reeling from a Best Denver Media account loss. Uh So
(00:24):
we got a rashim about that. Since Nick and I
are still in still in the polling. Nick and I
are still in it, but we're we're there fighting for you, Ryan.
We're carrying on your name and your honor.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I appreciate that, you know, I would say, you know,
it feels good to be nominated to make the top
sixty four. I got through one round down to the
top thirty two. So I'll keep pegging away at it.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Next year.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
He'll be a sweet sixteen guy. He's building the program.
He's building the program. It's so we're doing. I always
love having Ryan on get a chance to talk about,
you know, the data, what's going on with the quarterbacks right,
of course, the contributor to the Pro Football Hall of
Fame and his has worked with professional football teams before. Ryan,
As we look at this this first game, I didn't
think it was particularly flattering for the Broncos offense on
(01:05):
several levels. Before we get into what was your initial
impression of the Broncos against the Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Well, my initial impression is that it was disappointing. I
believe I had Seattle at winning twenty eight to twenty four,
so you know, twenty six twenty was close. I think
your prediction was even closer. So although the final score
was in the ballpark, very much of what I was anticipating,
I don't think any of us were expecting the offense
to struggle as much as it did, so I feel
(01:33):
a little deflated on that end. But it's only one game,
so yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Ran, it's only one game, but there was a lot
of expectation based on what so many fans saw bo
Niggs in the preseason. Do you think the criticism that
he experience after Week one is fair?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Not at all. The box score numbers were horrific, Nick,
so there's really no way to skate around that. When
you adjusted for context. One of my favorite stats is
per Ben Baldwin. His Twitter handles at Ben b Baldwin
is adjusted EPA per play, and that's defined as EPA
adjusted for pass protection, receiver drops, dropped interceptions, luck on
(02:16):
interceptible passes, fumble recoveries, and interception returns given credit for
expected yards after the catch only, not accounting for the
defense's faced and by that metric, bo came in twentieth place,
bad but not horrific, and the adjustment relative to the
support of his teammates was the second biggest adjustment upward.
(02:37):
Only Will Levis had had a greater adjustment meeting a
tougher playing situation. So the box score numbers were horrific.
Even the adjusted numbers are still below average. But it's
one game, so there's not much to read into it.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Were there any statistical standouts for the Broncos in that
supporting cast, Now, there were some highlights.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Certainly, Devon caught eight receptions off of eight targets, didn't
put up a lot of yards to take, twenty two
of them were yards after the catch. Josh Reynolds had
five catches for forty five yards, Three of them were
first downs, what's connected three or three on field goals
and one to one on the pat One of my
favorites was Riley Moss twelve total tackles, which is the
(03:15):
second highest mark in Denver Broncos franchise history for a cornerback.
Only Tamp Bailey on one occasion had produced thirteen tackles,
so that was certainly good to see. And of course
Alex Singleton with an interception, nine total tackles and a
tackle for a loss. There were some standouts and it
was a competitive game, so I think it's important not
to lose out of those. Well.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Once again, going back to Bow because obviously the topic
conversation has a lot to do with the quarterbacks, since
he is the guy who's supposed to character team forward.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Were there any statistical numbers.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
That you can say throw out there that make fans
change their mind about what they think about Bo right now?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I don't know if there were any nick from the
game against Seattle that by themselves is going to get
anybody too jazzed up right now. I would say, if
you're digging for positives, I would note that he was
better in the second half than he was in the
first half. He completed twelve of twenty two passes and
took two sacks in the first half. He really turned
it around in the second half, completed fourteen of twenty
although they were very short completions and he didn't take
(04:20):
any sacks. And that's something that we've been talking about
over the past few months, is his proficiency in avoiding facts.
He was sacked twice on forty four dropbacks. That puts
him at around four and a half percent sack percentage.
That's ninth in the NFL for one week. And sack
percentage is a statnic that I always look to as
an indicator of quarterbacks with high football IQ and good instincts.
(04:41):
Trevor Lawrence, who had a disastrous box score rookie season,
still finish in the top ten and sack percentage. He's
continued to do that every year of his career. So
if you're looking for something positive, look at sack percentage.
Look at the completion percentage going up in the second half.
And I know Ben's been touting his wheels and the
mile prower. There was a number that you, Ben, I
don't remember exactly what it was, but there's a few
(05:02):
positives for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, Bo Dix had the second fastest carry in the NFL,
the highest top speed second Higt top speed. I believe
it was behind Tank Dell. Dell had a carry that
went slightly faster, but over twenty miles an hour.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Bonies can run.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And you know, something that bothered me a little bit
was how much we did not exploit that in that game.
It felt like, you'd, I understand not want to put
a quarterback out there and getting hurt, but I also
understand what to get him out there and getting comfortable
and make the defense respect them, respect those legs agreed.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And you know, we didn't see a lot of it,
but when he did take off, he produced I believe
it was a twenty three yard run in the first
play of that final drive there. Then there was an
incompletion and then four passes completed in a row before
the touchdown runs. So hey, that put us within six
and it's good to see that with the game on
the line, and then the way we wanted it to
didn't have a chance to touch the ball again, but
it wasn't a bad way to close out the game.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Well, does it give you a little optimism to know
that most of the quarterbacks who were drafted in the
first round and the first week, whether they played on
a row or they played at home, they did really
fare that well as far as passing yards. So is
that another bump statistically heading into Sunday against the Steelers
(06:17):
that Brocos fans can say, you know what, bow Knicks
could be primed for a breakout game against the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I don't know if I would I would go as
far as to say breakout game. I think it's going
to be better. But passing yardage totals across the league
were abysmal, and I think a lot of that is
the function of the lack of camp and preseason reps.
So you're going to get a little bit sloppy football
in Week one, a little bit sloppier than maybe it
should be.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
But that wasn't just Bonnicks.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
That was a number of quarterbacks, some reputable quarterbacks across
the league. So I think it'll jump up as the
week's carry on.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It's almost a diametrically opposite philosophy that Bow's going to
be up against. You're looking at you, you know the
kind of the zone that that Seattle was running, and
this is more of an attack demand type defense out
of Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Does that benefit a young quarterback? Is it? Is it
a detriment? Is it neutral? When when rolling this out
and rolling him out in the second.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Start, It's really going to depend on how efficiently they
execute that game plan. And you know, Sean Payton's offense
is really predicated upon timing pass accuracy. We're not going
to see bo Nick stretch the field. And you know,
one of the things I'd mentioned on Twitter earlier tonight
is just what the precedent of Drew Brees has done
(07:33):
for expectations in a Sean Payton offense. Because Drew, by
the latter third of his career, developed what I described
as absolute superhuman processing, pocket presence, accuracy skill set. The
combination of those things has never been seen by any
quarterback in the NFL outside of Peyton Manning. And the
way that Drew executed it was a bit different because
(07:54):
the system he ran with Sean Payton was very different
from what Peyton Manning ran in Indianapolis and later in
Denver or I think people have to understand for Drew
before the Labram injury, he already had elite football IQ
prestat processing speed, and above average pass accuracy, but that
torn Labraam forced him into a situation where you're taking
what was a below average arm and you're making it
(08:17):
almost unusable. And I don't think people appreciate just how
much preparation and all the work that he put into
that comeback. I'm talking twelve months a year of obsessively
refining his reaction time, his pass accuracy. He widened his
base to shorten his pass release. He methodically just reinvented
(08:37):
himself to lean on the strengths that he already had,
but to compensate for the weaknesses that he dealt with physically.
And now from what I'm hearing, he doesn't even throw
ball in the backyard with his kids using his right arm.
But he was still through to the end of his
career routinely completing seventy five percent or so of his passes.
So when you see that precedent, that skill set, even
with a weak arm, is something that would have been
(08:59):
a favorable match for a defense similar to what Pittsburgh
is running. I've been calling bon Nicks a poor man
screw Brees, but we're really comparing in the Superman and
I think we need to take the foot off of
the gas pedal a little bit and not box him
into that comparison. Specifically, it's going to be a struggle,
and I expecting the struggle against Pittsburgh. I just think
it's going to be a little bit better than what
(09:20):
we saw in Week one.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Well, let's talk about things that could help Bow not
struggle against Pittsburgh. And two of those things, am I
pinion have to do with getting Marvin Mimms more involved,
but also Josh Reynolds, who the team acquired from his
time in Detroit.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Is there a way in your mind.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Because I know I have one that they can get
these two guys involved that would actually take the pressure
off Bow and allow him to get some more plays
down the field.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
I think both of them have the skill set to
be able to deliver in those situations. We even saw
it for a play with Josh Reynolds in the season opener.
I think the trouble is going to be establishing the
do we have the scheme, the blocking, and the personnel
and the commitment to actually execute an effective running game,
because that's what's going to open up holes for Bo
to be able to nail people in some man to
(10:12):
mand situations to be able to do that with consistency
to walk away after four quarters and say this rookie
quarterback's produced well and had a good game. That means
to be seen. But I don't think that we're going
to be able to facilitate it without finding greater balance
and execution in the running game.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
So what is the answer for the Broncos to bounce
back in this game against the Steelers? Does it start
with the run game and establishing that? Is it creating
something different where what bo Nix is doing in the
passing game isn't as predictable and short? Is it a
combination of things? What would be the first thing you
would address with this offense?
Speaker 3 (10:47):
It's all the above, And with a rookie quarterback, it
never hurts to lean on a running game, but that's
going to be on our blockers and our running backs
to really gain positive yardage. There's nothing more frustrating to
me as an animal than seeing first down plays go
for negative one zero, one yard. When that happens, you're
forcing your quarterback into second and long and oftentimes third
(11:08):
and long situations that just put too much pressure on
a rookie quarterback to execute. But I would say for bow,
he needs to walk away from the pressure. There were
a number of snaps in his debut where he was
drifting towards the pressure and they didn't necessarily result in sacks,
but they definitely resulted in offensive plays that didn't go anywhere.
It's just going to be a matter of refining those
(11:29):
skills and executing with more consistency. I mean, I know
these are platitudes that don't really mean much until we
actually see them. It's a lot easier to say that's
what they should do. It a lot more difficult to
go out there and execute.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Well. I know we've talked land about the office side
of the ball and bowl knicks, but let's take a turn
and talk about the defense. Because the Broncos defense did
play much better in that second half. And you brought
up RILEYG. Moss and the number of tackles that he's made,
but also the guy who is the king of swinging
in a king of tackles, and now Alex Singleton.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
He was a guy that once again was in the
mix again.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Howard Singleton is phenomenal and to see everything that he
did from hauling in the interception to just he tackles
everybody to the site, and I didn't want to. I
wasn't sure if I was even going to mention this
on the air, Nick, because this might be a little
bit sore. So I hope that you can take it
with grace. But I just happened to be browsing the
Broncos all time list of solo tackles, and I'm seeing
(12:27):
Alex Singleton at two hundred and thirteen. I'm seeing you
at two hundred and nineteen. So if he keeps playing
the way down that list, my friend.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Oh wow, come on, Ryan, God.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
It's tougher for DB's to get those tackles.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It should be graded on a curve. Linebacker right should
be should be graded on a curve. Obviously. Do you
have to send him a cake?
Speaker 5 (12:50):
Though?
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Is there some kind of congratulatory Not that I'm moving
I'm aware of, but uh, I mean, to my credit, listen,
if I'm leading a team in tackles, that means a
D is really awful. That means offensive running backs are
getting twelve to fifteen yards downfield. So listen, I'm okay.
If I'm going down the list in this particular.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Way, Okay, Well, we'll keep an eye.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
We got Ferg Watch on the tackles we have Watch,
We'll get some theme music behind that crawler on the chiron.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Make that happen.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Ryan, upcoming game against the Steelers, say you got Justin
Fields on the other side.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I'm not been a big fan of his.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
I think it's a better outcome for the Broncos to
be facing off against him than Russell Wilson. We don't
know necessarily that Wilson won't play in that game. He's
obviously practiced last to days. But as you look ahead
to this thing, how good a chance you have the
Broncos winning the home opener here?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
You know, I have Pittsburgh twenty four to seventeen. But
just as I said last week, it's going to be
a very winnable game. And Ben, you know my thoughts
on Justin Field. So if we have a choice between
the old man version of Russell Wilson or a fresh
Justin Field, I'd rather face the fresh Justin Fields because
I don't I don't think very highly of him as
a quarterback. I think he is a tremendous playmaker. I
(14:02):
think he was a very good college football quarterback. But
I just don't see the processing speed and ability to
execute anything resembling structured offense. So I hope he gets
the start and I hope that we play well. We'll see.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Do you see any weaknesses.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
I know we're going into week two, but do you
see any weaknesses from your film watching that the Broncos
could possibly exploit When it comes to the Pittsburgh still
is defense.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
You know, as far as their defense, it's a very
different kind of matchup. As Ben had said earlier, I
think it's really going to be fleshing out that identity
and not changing the game plan at halftime. It's really
going to be about establishing that running game and then
executing the passing game. It's not about maintaining a pretty
completion percentage, because that doesn't mean anything if you're completing
(14:52):
a bunch of passes for one or two yards. But
it is important to be able to execute the offense
with consistency, and I think the completions build the confidence
of young quarterbacks. So if we can open things up
with a run game, I think it's going to open
up some opportunities for Gonicks in the middle of the field.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well, Ryan, we appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
As always, you guys want to find Ryan on Twitter
at the Ryan Michael. Give him some give him some
follow give him some love, and next year he's getting
to the Sweet sixteen of the media, the media poll.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Oh gee, thanks, This is what I This is.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
What I do for you. Mat We're building the brand,
We're building the program.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Here.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
This is what I'm doing. I'm getting these recruits. They're
hearing us now, we're getting them in.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I'm here for it.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Absolutely a right man. Look forward to talking to you
next week.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
So good take here, guys.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Ryan Michael is a contributor statistician unofficial official statistician here
at BCT contribute to Pro Football Hall of Fame. It
has been a coach in several professional leagues as well.
We always love having him on the show. When we
come back, Nick, we've got Cabrie Bibbs from CSU.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, you guys want to stay tuned for that. Kobrie
Bibs next Brockos County.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Tonight Special thanks to Steve Atwater, the Hall of Famer
(16:17):
joining us in the first hour.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
You guys missing of that.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
You go to Broncos Country Night dot Com, slash podcast
or wherever you get the podcast. Don't you guys just
get thinking stuff Michael Coover is getting that stuff up
there real quick for you. We're gonna run right out
to the KWA Common Spirital hotline though, and bring on
the Pride of Colorado stage former running back Capri Bibs.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Capri, how you doing to see me?
Speaker 5 (16:35):
I'm doing great. How you guys doing doing?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Doing pretty well? We got a little bit of a
game coming up here this weekend. You may or may
not have heard about. You may not be familiar with
this rivalry. It's interesting to me watching a lot of
videos coming out. You got a lot of guys Horton,
you know, talk a little bit of smack, say hey,
we should have we should have murdered these guys last year.
Is there a sense of you think there's a sense
of confidence with that CSU team going into this game?
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Uh? Absolutely, you know. And I was kind of talking
about this the other day with a couple of my buddies.
But just the way the universe kind of plays out,
it's like kind of Colorado State was kind of brought
back to life. Was seeing how Texas did Michigan and
then them coming back getting to win and now being
able to build from the game last year. I think
(17:19):
the CSU players weren't, you know, as confident as they
were this year, seeing that they really do have what
it takes to you know, beat that team and also compete,
you know, for something that's great, especially with Tory Horton
at the Rains too well.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
J Noville was talking about this matchup earlier on this
week and a couple of things he mentioned as far
as the culture that he's trying to establish up there
at with the Rams, and he mentioned it in this
particular way. He said, he's trying to build a team
that has grit, physicality, and fundamentals.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
When you watch this team right.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
After last week they got the win, but do you
think that they can those three characteristics in this game
hosting it at their home stadium?
Speaker 5 (18:07):
You know, that Ram that rivalry just in the hole.
I don't know if people are familiar with it privy
to coach Prime, you know, but that rhyme is that
rivalry has always been rich, you know, and so all
the Colorado people of the state know how rich this
rivalry is and how gritty this game just is. You know.
I don't think it doesn't really matter who the coach is,
(18:30):
you know, it comes down to a certain will the
players and a certain type of pride, you know, because
all their families watching. A lot of these kids are
Colorado born and raised, you know, so like this is
this is the biggest game of the year, you know.
He talking about the game used to be played at
sports authority empowerment, you know. So this game has always
always been a real deal, you know, and it's always
(18:52):
brought the best in every last every single player, you know.
So I think that's another thing that you're about to
see again. But I think CSU just has a lot
to bring to the table with that quarterback, wide receiver,
you know, and in the trenches. And they got a
stable of running backs too, you know, so they I
think CSU really has what it takes.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Yeah. I liked what I saw from him last year.
I like what Norvell's doing up there. It'll be interesting
to see if he continue to build a program. I
like that young quarterback man nick Leosi. Was he true
freshman last year or recher freshman?
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Yeah, yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
He's playing well.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Above his years as far as that kind of stuff goes.
Want to pivot a little bit, talk about the you know,
the Denver Broncos. I don't know if you got a
chance to watch it Seattle game last week. It's tough
for me watching it because I'm like, man, they they're
not getting a run game going for this young quarterback.
And you being a former running back, you've been a
former Broncos running back. What did you think of the
lack of attention to the run game and not really
(19:44):
running it seemed like with a purpose.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Yeah, you know, you know, just looking back on Sean
Payton's game. You know, in the previous years that I've
always watched Sean Payton play, He's always got the running
back involved, you know. So that's another question.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Na.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
You know, they're playing running back by committee, and at
some point you also got to see those running backs
almost step up in a way that demands the ball.
You know. I love a back that's like that, you know,
that says, hey, every time you give me the ball,
there's going to be something, you know, and it's gonna
look like something. Pi Checko reminds me of that from
the Chiefs, you know, like it's just that certain type
(20:22):
of attitude you know, you got to run with. It's
that certain type of swagger you know that comes in
as a running back. So I think Sean Payton is
also you know, needs little help, you know, in that
running back room. You know, I think what they have
going on now is cool, you know, but for what
they're trying to do, they need a dynamic running back
a Kamara of Reggie Bush. And you know all those
(20:44):
Pierre Thomas' is like Sean Payton's always had, He's always
had those those running backs hitting on a different type
of on a different type of level.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Well, Ben and I was talking about earlier in the
show that you know, when you play football, especially at
the running back position, it's all about establishing a rhythm.
And sometimes there is a significant rotation of backs in
because they do have a bevy of backs.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
How important is it as a.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Running back to kind of get yourself established in the
game before you kind of subbed out for someone else.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
And I mean, I'm opportunitist. You know. You can't ask
a guy like me that I'm a practice squad I
got I'm a doggy dog guy. Every time you hand
me a played I'm gonna eat, you know, like I'm
just bred different. When it comes to that type of thing.
You can't really enforce that on every running back. And
I guess that kind of just goes back to that
keynote that we kind of were talking we were talking
(21:40):
about earlier, like, you know, a running back has to
insert himself, like he has to show, you know that
he can come out, catch the ball, run the ball,
do all these things. Because if you start game planning
for these running backs and saying, hey, this is this
is the first and second down guy. All right, this
is only a third down guy. This guy is good
(22:00):
on the stretch, He's not good a like guys are
keen off on that and guys are way too smart
to have way too much film nowadays to be dealing
with it. Back that is only one dimensional, you know,
Like you have to be a type of running back
that can run in between the tackles and do everything
that is acquired. That's the backs that are having the
most access in the NFL right now.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, you see, the modern back is a bit of
a different skill set. You know, you don't see the guys,
I mean, you do see a few guys that are
bigger out there, but you don't see the Jerome bettest
running back out there anymore.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
You got to be a whatever back.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
You got to be able to catch the ball, go
between the tackles, take the stretch outside, take the toss whatever.
As we look at this, Sean Payton, though, has been
a guy who's rotated guys through Javonte's been.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Sort of the power guy.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
You get your leel, who's got the wheels to get
the outside and estimate was supposed to be that bowling
ball with knives.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
How do you adapt to that?
Speaker 2 (22:49):
As you know, how do you adapt to a head
coach who kind of has your pigeon hole? How do
you go out there and show them, hey, I can
do it all.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
I mean shoot every time you get in the game,
you know, and sometimes you as a running back, I noticed, uh,
just verbatim being in the game, and sometimes the other
guy gets tired or something. Maybe you get into three
players in a row. You got to make those plays
go then, you know what I'm saying, Like, you gotta
be that doggie dog. You got to make sure you eat.
And that's kind of like either running backs right now,
(23:17):
if you say, hey, I'm secure in the position that
I'm in, then be secure, you know. But then you're
also going to see a team that's gonna want to
come out and throw the ball for you two times
because security doesn't doesn't live well in the NFL, you know,
And they say that where NFL stands from now for long,
you don't care if you get paid. You gotta you
gotta attack it in a certain type of way in
(23:39):
order to get the certain type of response you want
out of out of your play, you know. So, I
think I've always done a good job of making my
opportunities count, you know. So, I'm just speaking on you know,
this personal experience.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Sorry, Well, when you think about what the Broncos gonna
face on Sunday being the Pittsburgh still is the way
they limped the linebackers get downhill and the way they
blitz As a running back, how do you prepare yourself
for or is there a way to prepare yourself for
that level of physicality, especially when that linebacker's coming blitzing
through that a gap.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Well, you know what a lot of things I've seen
last game two and like, like we talked about with
throwing forty two passes or something like that from a
rookie quarterback. We don't want to get into a thing
where we try to prove a playing with our quarterback.
I think I think we do still run the ball
versus team and we get some get some hats on hats,
and that's that's first thing first, you know, I think
the most successful runs you've seen out of Williams when
(24:36):
those linemen get hats on hats and at least get
a piece of him, because he's a dynamic guy and
he can do a lot more then, I think, than
what's being asked of him right now. And that's what
I'll honestly would if I was Sean Payton, I would
challenge that out of thirty three to be that all
round back and be a guy that can stay in
the game and do everything that's called up on the
(24:56):
offense to even give that quarterback a break so people
don't know when he's dropping back to pass and when
it's going to be a run or play action, you know,
and that also goes along with the back as well,
you know, knowing what type of back is in the game.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
One of the interesting things that I've come across is,
you know, for the last couple of years, that's decade,
decade and a half, it's been a passers league, right,
and everybody's been pivoting toward eleven personnel getting receivers on
the field and slinging the ball over the yard. But
the pendulum has started to swing back to the other
direction on the efficacy of the running backs. Yeah, everybody
gets lighter and you want to go more power, right.
We're starting to see that play out a little bit
(25:30):
in the league as you look at teams starting to
run the ball a little bit more, they're starting to
get a little heavier on offense and get back in
front of that pendulum. How do you, as a running
back feel about the game pivoting back towards the running
back being more valuable.
Speaker 5 (25:44):
It's hilarious to be because, you know, seeing all the
running back talks being d value. I want to say
a very unpopular opinion that may get me scolded a
little bit, but I honestly do believe that the running
back is the most difficult position on the football field,
especially if you're talking about a talented running back, not
a one dimensional back. We're talking about the back that
(26:05):
you need to keep in first, second, and third down.
We're talking about a guy that's gonna have to block.
We're talking about a guy who's gonna have to catch
the ball and also run the ball, and not just
run the ball, run it very efficiently and be elite.
When you would actual receiver what to catch the ball
at point A or be good on the other end
after the catch, but no running back would have to
be you know all these things. I mean, like, look,
(26:28):
Christian McCaffrey. You can't possibly tell me that there's a
more valuable player for a football team than Christian McCaffrey.
That's what the power of having a great back is.
And I think seeing the NFL fall away from the
la Damian Tomlinson's, the Marshall Fawkes, the Priest Holmes, you know,
the Walter Payton's of the world, Barry Sanders. These guys
(26:50):
played every snap. These guys caught the ball, ran the ball,
did everything under the sun, you know so and by
them making backs and that being back for being a
one dimensional is also there. Try I think it's more
of a point that, yeah, we don't want to pay
these bags. That's more of just what it is, not
how much the running back is valuable to the game.
(27:13):
It's about the market and knowing that you got to
pay a quarterback two hundred and three hundred million dollars
right now, and knowing that if you have a back
like Christian McCaffrey, you should probably be paying him one
hundred and seventy million dollars because a guy like him
can change the whole dynamic of your complete offense.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
We're talking to.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Kapri Bibs, former Broncos running back and CSU Alum. I
have to ask you about something, and I don't know
if it's a sensitive topic to you, but I'm going
to ask it anyway.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
So, and within the Broncos organization.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
There is a ring of fan and at every college
they have a college Hall of Fame. Now I'm wondering
why is it that Capri Bibbs is not and the
CSU Rams.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Hall of Fame.
Speaker 5 (28:06):
Man, well, uh, it's kind of it's kind of mind
blowing the knee too. But you know, to see the
list of people that were kind of listed on there
and see the names, and to also know that I'm
also only football player in the program that holds every
record in his at his position. You know, another player
in that in school, in school history that's on that
(28:29):
list hold every record at their position or even sometimes
even a whole dir in general. And I'm the lone
holder of all records at my position, touchdowns, yards, yard
speci however, you want to have you on the market.
But to be in the Colorado Hall of Fame, it's sweet,
but you know it kind of doesn't make sense to
(28:49):
be in the Colorado Hall of Fame but not be
at my school's hall of Fame. But you know, hopefully
things work out. It's always God speed. I never thread
about nothing like that. I was like, God, handle it.
You know. Obviously, I'm human, so I can see things,
you know, I can feel things, you know, So obviously
that's where I would kind of just key on that.
But other than that, you know, I'm not frustrated at all.
(29:12):
You know, I know what I meant to that program.
I know how much that program meant to me. Helping
me get out of junior college, go to college, giving
me faith to go to college like Colorado say, has
been a huge for me. I know, I know when guys,
at this time, it'll be time.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Yeah, I'm talking again with Capri Bibbs, former Colorado State
running back, was with the Broncos, the Washington football team,
and the Packers.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
I believe all three in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
As we look forward to this rivalry game, get back
on CUCSUS looking for this rival gig game this weekend.
What what kind of predictions you have for us going
to this game?
Speaker 5 (29:46):
Man? You know what, I think it's going to be
a nail bier. I think it's going to be a
nail bier. But I say, I say, CSU pulls it out.
I say CSU pulls it out, you know, and if
it's not Neil, but I say, we take it by Tim.
We'll take about ten points. I'm gonna go ten points.
But that's just how I feel you.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Going out there on the limb right now with that one.
Speaker 5 (30:09):
Yeah, I really do. I feel like we take it
about ten, you know, And I think we keep the
train rolling for the for the Sanders, for the Sanders plan.
You know. I feel like, you know, everything that they're
building nowhere is cool and all, but you know, at
some point we got got to get down to the
nitty gritty to flash and all that. That's cool. But
(30:30):
you know, over at CSU, I know, we we believe
in real, real integrity, real real grit, you know, real grind.
You know a lot of things that the coach actually
talked about I can actually vouch for, like what's been
about that program with without the coach. You know, people
people that go to CSU have a certain swagger tool.
You can ask Jack Barrett that you know. You know,
(30:51):
former sack leader in the NFL. You know, Michael Gallops,
the Mashar Higgins. You know, we go out there and
we get money. You know, so no matter what it is.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Well, speaking of that, we got a couple of seconds
here remaining with you. But last year when this game
is played in Boulder, Lil Wayne Kim leading the team out.
So who's going to lead the team out? I mean,
I know you dabbling hip hop? Are you leading the
team out? Rapping coming out of the tunnel?
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Man?
Speaker 5 (31:24):
You know what? I know? Coach, you know, and he's real,
he's a real He's going to keep it. He's going
to keep it by a buck and keep it the
way they do things. You know, And I know the
focus that's been going on over there at CSU. They're
not taking this game lightly. They're not They're not joking
around at all. You know, they're ultra ultra serious. And
they're serious about their season too, you know, And I know,
(31:46):
see you may be serious about their season, but you know,
obviously you know, being serious, being serious for no other reasons,
you know, when other guys are being serious for life,
and I feel like you got to kind of and
at a certain point, you know, these guys are fighting
for Instagram, you know what I'm saying, these guys fighting
for you know, real spots. They're really trying to be somebody.
(32:09):
They're really you know, trying to put on their program.
You know. I feel like it's that's like it's a
little Juco behavior going on. I see you.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Well, I'm looking forward to this game. They went by
ten plus. Bro, I'm giving you flowers on Twitter. I'm
putting it out there. I'm saying you called it first,
and if they if they, if they lose, then I'm
also blaming you and saying I placed my best friends
on you, trying to get my money back.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
So crazy.
Speaker 5 (32:34):
We already underdogs coming in and I get to understand that.
But I know we're gonna do what we gotta do.
I know CSU is never it's never been a thing
to where anybody blows anybody out, yep. But I really
do just feel like CSU is just on that train
right now. Man. I just I don't know, we.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Got them in there Yep, we got it well, hopefully, hopefully,
hopefully it Lands has Capri bibs running back Colorado Steak.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
We got a break. Brokles cut her tonight. I empy
this
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Mhm
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