Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Once again filling in it is Zack Segers, journed by
the one and only Nick Ferguson, and right now we'll
head on over to the KOA Common Spirit Health Hotline
to talk with the athletics one and only Nick Cosminder,
the incredible uh Broncos beat writer for The Athletic. You
can find him over on social media at Nick Cosminder.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
All.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
One word, Nick, how are you doing tonight? I'm great?
Speaker 4 (00:26):
How are you guys doing?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Doing well? Doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Enjoying all the all the sports action we have tonight?
I was checking out your story today. I really enjoyed it.
The statistical look at at maybe what's holding up this
this Broncos offense.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
For those that haven't had the chance to check it
out yet, what did you discover uh in terms of
some of those on off splits?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Well, yeah, I mean when you were going back and
kind of looking at the game, I think obviously there
was a lot of hammering about what what didn't go
right and naturally so, but I wanted to kind of
take a closer look of all, right, well, when they
were getting it going on, you know, the touchdown drive
or even when they put together a really good drive
to get the go ahead field goal before it's stalled
(01:12):
inside the ten. You know what was what was working there,
and it was it was kind of what we've seen
at different times this year, which is they go tempo, right,
they go no huddle. B Nix is able to sort
of get to the line with the personnel they already
have on the field and they start to get a
little bit of a rhythm and you know, again it's
(01:33):
a small sample size, right, The Broncos have run about
forty no huddle plays according to True Media, but their
efficiency is eighth in the league, and certainly I think
room to do more of it.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
I was talking to.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Mike McGlinchey about it this week in the locker room.
He says, it really is something you can kind of
feel like when you're struggling to get a rhythm that
if you can get to the line of scrimmage and
you can kind of just start moving downhill a little bit,
hit on a couple big plays, all of a sudden,
you feel like you're really kind of dictating the tempo
and you can't use it all the time because you'll
(02:07):
you'll turn, you know, drives that are already short they're
going three and out a lot into even shorter drives
and put your defense on the field way quicker than
they need to be.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
So they have to pick their spots.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
There's really only one team in the league that runs
no huddle, you know, half the time or more, and
that's the Washington Commanders. It's just how Cliff Kingsbury has
always operated. But I still think there's more room for
Denver to add to that as they're trying to kind
of figure out ways that they can just create something
of a rhythm offensively.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Well, Nick, with that, with that being said, what would
you say, at this stage of the season going into
I guess Week seven, what's the Broncos identity offensively? Where
can they kind of get to through this game and
to the next game and establish some form of identity
because right now on the stage, I have no idea
what that is.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yeah, that's the problem, Nick, is like they haven't been
able to firmly establish it, and every time you think
they're getting kind of close right there, there was a
stretch there where you know, JK. Dobbins and the run game,
you were starting to see that.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
And it happened in the second half against.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
The Chargers, you know, throughout the game against the Angles,
and then when they really needed it against the Eagles
as well, you started saying like that, that's where we
can get gone get we get JK. Dobbins rolling downhill
and you can start to build some play action off
of that, and that's what we can.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Be as an offense.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
And then you turn around and have a game like
you did against the Jets. Now we're going to see,
you know, just how much maybe Matt Parrett being compromised
in that game, you know, played into it, but he
was not the only one that didn't play well up front.
And so like this has to be I think a
bounce back game for this group, which is hard to
do against a defensive front that has four first round
(03:54):
draft picks, But that really does need to be their identity.
I think, you know, they have the capability of having
the best rushing attack that they've had certainly in the
Sean Payton era, and then maybe even going back for
the Broncos to you know, back to twenty twenty one
when when Javonte Williams was a rookie pair with Melvin Gordon.
That was kind of the last time that that was
their identity was a running football team. That's where they
(04:18):
got to be. And then I think they need to
continue to get Evan Ingram involved in this thing. I
think there there's a lot of situations where you can
get you know, him in choice route type matchups that
that he can win. I'd like to see some more
of that with Pat Bryant as well. You know where
you're where, you're just creating more one on one matchups
that you can win in the middle of the field.
(04:38):
They got to sprinkle that in there too. But but
I agree with you, they haven't. They haven't firmly established
any kind of identity that's been a moving target, and
I think until they can replicate something closer.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
To that, they're going to have a hard time struggling. Though.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
The only thing you can really hang your hat on
with his team is that they don't get sacked.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
And and that's not that's not nothing.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Because it is helping them avoid you know this and
dead Page's s field position most of the time, you know,
and that's a really good thing when you have a
defense as good as Denvers avoid putting them in bad spots,
and that goes a long way. But I still think They've.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
Got to get more explosive if they're going.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
To really be anything offensively.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Joining us is a Nick Cosminder with the athletic Nick.
Do you think they can continue to build on that
offensive identity or I guess maintain that offensive identity with
you know, now their third option at that left guard,
with Alex Powchwski starting for them this weekend for the
foreseeable future, with Powers and now paired on ir.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Well, yeah, they definitely need to hope that this like
that this sticks, I mean, because he's going to be
the third different starting left guard in as many weeks.
You know, I think there's something of a you know,
you don't always know what you got until it's gone,
and you know, I know that there were times that
people would be a little bit frustrated with with Ben
Powers here and there. But he's a good lineman. And
(06:01):
not only is he a good lineman, I think he's
good as a pairing with the Garrett Bowles. You know
that that's some of the most stability that Bowles has
had in his career as a Broncos left tackle, where
they've shuffled a lot of different guys next to him,
you know, Powers had started every single game since signing
here in twenty twenty three, and that I think had
a big impact on on Bowls. So they're going to
(06:23):
need this to stick so that they can get back
to some of the continuity and just read them that
they were starting to create before Powers went down. I
actually think that the Kalachowski move is the right one
to me when your roster is fully healthy. He's probably
their sixth best offensive lineman. And I know Sean Payton
talked a lot about you know, guys preferring left versus
(06:43):
versus right as opposed to just tackle versus guard. But
I think they're at a point now you just need
to put your best lineman in that spot, and I
think that's Kyalchwsky.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Now, the question is going to be the Broncos have.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Used heavy personnel, jumbo tight end, six offensive linemen, whatever
you want to call it. That's been a pretty heavy
part of their offense so far this year. I think
they're using those six offensive lineman formations the second highest
rate in the league this year. So if Paul Cheski's
moving to left guard, you know, do they put somebody
else in that role? You know, maybe a guy like
Frank Crumb and come in and play that role so
(07:16):
that you can continue to do some of those things,
or do you just kind of, you know, take that
out replace it with more traditional thirteen personnel. That's that's
one wrinkle to watch. But yeah, whatever it is, they've
got to be able to kind of find something consistently
and build some rhythm off of it. Because ben Powers
is not coming back anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
What can we say about this Denver Broncos defense that
hasn't been said thus far? And before you joined is
Zach and I were talking about John de Cooper and
Nick Benito And is there better as rush duo in
the game right now?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
No?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
I don't think so.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
You know, it's really interesting.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
I think the fact that they're honoring.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
The super we're both fifty team this weekend, and which
was obviously led by that no fly zone defense, it
creates kind of a great comparison point. So I have
a story coming out tomorrow sort of looking at those
two defenses and where they were after six games into
each of those seasons, and this twenty twenty five defense
is statistically better than where that group was six games
(08:21):
into the season in almost every way, a far better
red zone defensive percentage, better third down red zone percentage,
giving up fewer points per game, fewer yards per game,
more sacks. The only thing that that twenty fifteen unit
was doing better at this point in the season was
takeaways by a large amount. The twenty fifteen team had
(08:42):
seventeen takeaways in their first six games of the season,
an incredible rate. That year, they turned five of their
turnovers into touchdowns, and so like that was that would
maybe be the one next step for this current defense
is you know, can you turn all this pressure into
kind of an out blanch of takeaways. I think guys
in that locker room feel like that's the part that's coming,
(09:04):
just because you can't pressure that consistently and put yourself
in those situations and not eventually have the ball bounce
your way. So that's going to be the thing to watch.
But you know, of course, you only get to kind
of have that label as one of those all time
type defenses if you finish the job, if you win
the title.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
You know, the.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Defenses we remember are the ones that finished it with
a championship. So in that regard, the twenty twenty five
version has a long way to go. Of course, but
just at this six game way point, it's really it
was really interesting to kind of look at where those
two units were respectively.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Man, what a what a fun defense this has been
so far. That's going to be an excellent story to
read tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Must read it.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
And perfect timing with the big anniversary celebration of the
No Fly Zone this upcoming weekend or the Super Bowl
fifty championship team Nick Cosminder with the Athletic joining us
at Nick Cosminder on Twitter.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Thank you so much for giving us some of your.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
Time tonight, Nick, Yeah, I really appreciate if.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Always have a good night, you too, have a good one.
Once again, that was Nick Cosminder. Always love picking his brain,
and I thought he had some great insight there about
you know, where this offense is maybe trending, where this
defense is going from your experience as a defensive player,
that those takeaways the Broncos right now, they're fifth worst
(10:25):
in the NFL. They've only taken the ball away four
times this year despite being such a good defense with
high rates of pressure, really tight coverage.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
What do you think is.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Preventing them from getting those takeaways? And how do you
flip that switch as a defense if you can.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Well, you can't really try to flip that switch.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
And I know that's something that you know nationally is
being talked about, locally is being talked about, but I'm
sure we're inside that building. I'm sure Advance Joseph is
selling his players. Don't try to go out of your
way to create a turnover statistically, because when you go
out of your way to do that, you know what
you do. You don't play within the confinement of the defense.
(11:06):
You expose the defense. Instead of stopping what the opponent
from moving in advance in the ball, you've only exposed
the defense and you give them maybe an explosive.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
So the ideas just kind.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Of communicate play the game the way that you're being coached.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
To play jus a belichickism.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Do your job, just you know, stay within your role,
execute that role, and the turnovers will come.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah, because what happened when when you start chasing turnovers,
just like an offense chasing points, you put yourself in
a bad situation. There's bad offensive play, calls bad offensive execution. Defensively,
you're trying to punch the ball out instead of trying
to wrap the runner up you're trying to punch the
(11:51):
ball out.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Guess what he's doing. He's moving forward right.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
He's actually getting that team out of second.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
And long right or third and long.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
The idea if you have an opportunity to punch the
ball out, you punch the ball out like PS two did,
Or you have an opportunity where someone else three other
guys are now holding a running back or a ball carrier,
then you can come in and punch the ball out.
But the main objective is you have to limit the
yards after contact. That's what you have to do. But
(12:22):
if you try to go in and make interceptions that
turnovers happening, guess.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
What you're gonna end up on someone's highlight jah. You
don't want to allow those big explosive plays. With how
elite this defense is. I want to make you try
and go on a twelve play drive. Try and have
twelve plays.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
In a row against my defense without taking a sack
and putting yourself in a second and twenty.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Or something like that. That can kill the drive.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Lebronc is understandably like their odds to consistently blow up
those those longer drives as long as they're not allowing explosives.
It's going to be very, very hard to score on
this team.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, the only statistic that they need to be concerned
with is the W does make a difference how you
get it.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
But as long as you get.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
The W at the end of the day, that's all
that matters. Use the albrightism. What in the preseason, everything matters,
but the final score. In the regular season, nothing matters
but the final score. Out Let it feel like he's
still here. Coming up next Web in NFL six Pack
to dive into and get around or get to some
of the news all around the NFL that we haven't
(13:28):
got to yet.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Stay tuned. That's up next on Broncos Country tonight.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Big thank you to Nick Coswinder and Ryan Blackburn for
joining us talking about some nuggets, talking about some Denver Broncos.
If you missed any of that, you can go find
the full edition of the show all three hours wherever
you listen to podcasts or on the totally free and
awesome iHeartRadio app with it B and eight thirty eight
being the end of the show. You know what time
(13:58):
it is, Nick? What time is it toime for a
six packs?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Time for the NFL?
Speaker 4 (14:04):
SIA I'm gonna trink a lot and inside information you
can't find anywhere else.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
I know, the top six NFL headlines. What starting off here?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Excuse me starting off here with a little mini game
I wanted to play with you, Nick.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I think there are eleven.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
AFC teams still in the playoff hunt. The Buffalo Bills,
the New England Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals,
the Baltimore Ravens. So i'll go through them all here
in a second. Which of these teams do you think
are true contenders and who are the pretenders? We're just
lightning round through these. The Bills contenders are pretenders, Nick.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I'm saying pretenders. Oooh, Patriots contenders.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Oh that's a pretty big surprise there on the AFC East.
I know it was moving to the North. The Steelers
who played tonight.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Woop.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Bengals definitely pretenders, and the Ravens pretenders who so no
one legit in.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
The North, says Nick. Indianapolis Colts contenders, I like it.
Jags woom, that's a tough one. I'll go to man
Stay contenders.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
I like it. I like it. The Houston Texans, can
they write.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
The ship contenders, Los Angeles Chargers pretenders, Kansas City Chiefs
pretenders for sure? Whoam that's the that's the I think
the hottest take the Chiefs are pretend or what you
said contenders?
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Were? They thought? So? Okay? Yeah, for a second, I
was like, man, I must say that to tell it.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Okay, your last night last but certainly not least the
Denver Broncos Nick Ferguson. Right now as it stands, do
you think this team is a bunch of contenders or
a bunch of pretenders?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Contenders?
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Because in order to win championships you need your defense. Remember,
because we'll go fifty teen as being honor on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
How did they do that? Remind me again with their defense?
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Thank you enough said? The defense rests.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
And you know what that team at what of a
gubrand Wade Phillips and you knowing that team has yes
of a grand vance shows two tonight, Aaron Rodgers surpassed
Big Ben Roethlisberger for fifth place on the NFL's career
passing yards leader board. Has Aaron Rodgers come back this
season surprised you? And where do you think Rogers belongs
(16:25):
among the game's all time great quarterbacks. Is he a
top five guy all time, a top ten guy all
time or not even there?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Of course, I mean he's a top ten guy for sure,
because there's been a lot of joining quarterbacks over the
history of the game. When you have gone through super Bow,
you've been the league MVP for a while, that says
a lot about you know, your ability. And I love
Aaron Rodgers tenacity and the ability to give everyone the
middle finger regardless of what they think about him. You
(16:54):
need that type of gold to be able to play
in this league, but especially at that position.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
But he's definitely earned that right and he is one
hell of a player.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Dan if he keeps playing like this, It's funny how
he's really following the Brett Favre career projectory. You know,
I have a great career in Green Bay, kind of
flame out in New York and then land with a
well thought of organization and kind of write the ship
and get back to the playoffs. Right right now, it
seems like the Steelers will win a division and that's
you know, it's not going out as a Super Bowl champion,
(17:24):
but that's a pretty good way for Aaron Rodgers to go.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Out well, the first and foremost before you can even
talk super Bowl, you actually have to win your division,
and then you have to win a couple of playoff games.
So they have the right quarterbacks to do it. But
Kenny All put it all together. We'll just have to
wait and see.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
And the Steelers leading that division is part of the
reason why I think the Broncos might be contenders. To
your earlier point, I'm worried about a road playoff game
in Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
I'm not that scared of this Steelers team.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Well, right now, no one is afraid of Baltimore either,
because they can't stop and those bleed. So until Balti
more and so Buffalo and a lot of these teams
show they have a stop defense, then you can throw
all the points you want to, But if you can't
stop anyone in the clutch, you're not gonna win a
lot of games.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Three.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
This Weekend's Brown's Dolphins game will feature a matchup between
two attag of Iiloa and Dylan Gabriel as the starting quarterbacks.
That means it will be the first game first NFL
game since two thousand and six with a lefty with
two lefty starting quarterbacks a lefty representing either team in
(18:34):
the game. Are you surprised from a player's perspective, are
you surprised that lefty quarterbacks are such an extreme rarity?
And why do you think they are so hard to
come by to the point where we really haven't had
two concurrent starters that were left handed since two thousand
and six.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
I think that goes back to birth. You know, those
guys a born with just being a right handed quarterback,
and that's what everyone's kind of used to. Unless you're
am anecturius right then we'll see that. But then those
coaches who are kind of superstitious about that, they've been around,
you know, right on quarterbacks all their lives, and they
get a lefty, then it's like it seemed like that
(19:12):
guy's now boxing southpaw in their mind. But to me,
right left, as long as you could throw the ball,
great ball placement, anticipation, this shouldn't be a problem.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Are there any differences defending a left handed quarterback versus
right handed quarterback? I guess you're maybe looking for boots
rollouts to a different side, but is there any difference
in game planning?
Speaker 2 (19:30):
It's football, you're booting out to the right, you're booting
out to the left. The trajectory is probably going to
be the same. But lastly may be different for different guys.
But to me, it's still damn football, right. I mean,
just because the guys left handed doesn't really change anything.
Someone will say, well, maybe may take a little mustard off,
maybe may give him more.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
I don't care. They just throw the ball to the
open guy.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
Poor.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Since twenty eighteen, interim coaches are nine to nine in
their debut games. Now, a five hundred record might not
be all that impressive face value, but remember these are
guys coming in and taking over teams that just fired
their main head coach. So oftentimes there teams way below
five hundred. Yet these interim coaches and their debut games
(20:17):
five hundred and nine to nine records since twenty eighteen.
This weekend, Mike McCoy will join that list of interim
head coaches former Broncos offensive coordinator and Chargers head coach,
as he is now the Tennessee Titans interium head coach.
Are you buying into this premise of the interim coach
bump and do you think it could benefit the Titans
(20:39):
this week against the new England Patriots. And why do
you think from a player's perspective, we have seen you know,
over almost a decade now fairly consistent bumped from these
interim coaches coming out.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Well, here's the reason why. Once the head coach gets
fired and there's a guy.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Who's the intern as an interim head coach, you know,
that means jobs are on the line. Other people are
gonna get fired and guys are now looking around like.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Wow, if they fired him, they can fire me.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
So usually that's why you usually see teams or players,
you know, play better.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Coaches coach better, they coach harder because guess what they.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Know, this is the end of the row, like boys men,
So we're trying to get hit where we fit in.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
That's why it's time to start putting out the tape for.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
The other teams out there. Yeah, looking to scoop you.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Up, absolutely, because other teams are looking to see, okay, well,
with a coach being fired, we know the morale is
gonna be down. So who is still pushing through on
this losing team. It's no different than watching the Miami Dolphins,
right Who's going to continue to play on the one
to five team?
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Because we know, when you want to find someone gets fired.
Do you think this Titans team?
Speaker 1 (21:50):
I bet I you know, with the fact that they're
going from Brian Callahan to someone with head coaching experience
definitely helps. But do you think this Titans team will
be the better and maybe more dangerous down the stretch
now that they've got Mike McCoy at the helm.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
No, only read because the whole thing is McCoy was
there when Callahan was there.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
What has changed now he's in charge.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Maybe maybe you can get more of the plays that
he wanted to run that he couldn't run before. Maybe,
But you always get that bump because everyone knows that
someone's gonna get fired and now they're evaluating every guy
on the roster.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
I figure you have no worries about Drake May and
those Patriots going up against the Tits this week on them?
Speaker 2 (22:28):
No, nig I mean, trust me, Mike Verbel wants to
make very little work of that Tennessee Titans just to
get some get back.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
He's got a revenge game there, a legitimate one.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
I was one of the I don't know, more explosive
coaching departures I think we've seen in recent history.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Absolutely five.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Moving our focus to the college game. Here, Penn State
is suddenly the most coveted head coaching job in the
college game after they fired James Franklin surprisingly during their
three game losing streak where they've tumbled all the way
out of the rankings. Do you believe or sorry? That's
(23:08):
resulted in Kurt Signetti being re signed by Indiana to
an eight year, ninety three million dollar deal because they
don't want him to leave the building, and it's also
led to Matt Rule having to hop on the Pat
McAfee show to dismiss some of these rumors.
Speaker 7 (23:27):
Like it's better than when I was in Carolina and
they were chanting to fire me. So having other schools
maybe be interested in you is pretty cool. And but
I don't do that during the season. I don't mess
around with that.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
I'll play that.
Speaker 7 (23:39):
And at the same time, this is not a this
is not a jumping off job. This is a destination job.
This is one of the greatest places in the world.
This is a town of three hundred thousand people. This
is some everyone says, like Lincoln. It's three hundred thousand
people here in Lincoln, Like I can do whatever I
want here or I have a great young team, the
youngest team in the Big ten, think about how good.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Will be next year. Now, I'm not thinking about next year.
Speaker 7 (24:00):
But where we are right now, if we're learning, learning, learning,
think about where we're going to go with Dylan and
all these guys.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
So I refuse to be distracted.
Speaker 7 (24:08):
At the same time, it's will Asher alma mater. You
have to show it love and respect and and I
love pat Craft. They'll find the right coach for them,
whoever that is. But like, this is a destination job.
That should be a national bully, that should be a beast,
and I think we'll make our way to doing that.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
I got to ask you, Nick, do you believe Matt rule?
Speaker 2 (24:29):
All I heard was a bunch of coach speech because
he said he's not thinking about tomorrow, he's not thinking
about all of that. But then he talks about thinking
about next year.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Right.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
He mentioned it in his response itself. And it's always great.
You're always going to talk about the team that you're
with at that particular moment, and you're gonna flow so
much power to them. But if another team comes and
they're willing to give you a massive payday, because here's
what we know, money talks and we know what walks
the marathon that's going to change.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Oh your mind.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
But this is great to say, you know, make the
boosters feel great about themselves.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Remember mel Tucker.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
The CEEU bus right after he left the little alumni gathering,
I'm not going anywhere where.
Speaker 6 (25:12):
Did he end up Michigan State at about three hours time?
Speaker 3 (25:17):
So that's no I would tend to agree.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Do you think now during that he said that Nebraska
is a destination job. There's no reason to leave Nebraska.
Now the Vegas NS makers aren't listening to a. Matt
Rule is still the odds on favorite to become Penn
State's next head coach. But do you agree with him
that in the modern era of college football, the Nebraska
(25:41):
Cornhuskers are a destination job.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
No, they haven't been a destination job. Oh Jesse, see
you buss fans since Tom Osborne was there. So once
again that's the great thing to say to make them
think that it is a destination job. But also, here's
what you do by saying that my going on at McAfee.
Basically what you did was toe Pis State. We'll just
(26:04):
go ahead and find some more money that's basically what
you said.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Or Nebraska, We're gonna have to find some more money.
You know, kurtz Signetti just got ninety three from Indiana.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
But why because Pisst fans and people started talking about, well,
well maybe he would become the next Piste coach.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
We don't want him to meet, We don't want him
to go anywhere, you know. So what's what we had
to do. We had to pay him more. Did president yep?
Nick Saban retired and what happened.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
A bunch of coaches all around college football got a
whole lot of money to stay.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Put a whole lot of money. Six last one before
we're out of here.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
The Washington Commanders have won the Treylon Burks Sweepstakes. Freylon
Burks visited the Broncos earlier in the week, but did
not come to an agreement with the team. What are
your expectations for Burke's in the Nation's capital and do
you think this is a big missed opportunity for the
Denver Broncos.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Well, you don't know if it's a big missed opportunity
until Burks actually get us on the field and he
started making making plays. If he does that, then you
can look back on and say, well, the Broncos missed out,
but now you're going to the Commanders that has jayde
Damas as your quarterback, right, you got Terry McLaurin, who's out,
Deebo Samby.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
I mean you have some weapons there.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
So if Burkes can go and make some mate Adam Peters,
who's a GM, remember why he was drafted in the
first round by the Titans, then that changes so much.
So as we look at this, his production increases, he
starts to make plays, and then the Broncos wide receivers
are not making plays.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Maybe you go take a look at it.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
I do think this was a good choice from Treylon
Burke's camp. At least you know the Broncos that's a
little it's open at receiver. There's a little bit of
I don't know, battling for roles or whatnot behind Cortland.
Sutton is the clear number one. But I think you
look over at that washing and receive a room where
you know, maybe Luke McCaffrey is the number two option
(28:04):
right now, and that looks wide No disrespect to the Coloraden,
but that looks wide open right now to where if
Treylon Burks comes at all close to living up to
that first round pedigree. He might be the number two
target in that offense by the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
He could.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Right now, for him, it's about keeping his head down,
learning the system, trying to go out there and do
whatever they ask him to do, because you know, when
you're an undrafted player, you don't get a second and
third opportunity. For him, being a first rounder, he's always
going to get that opportunity. Now, will he get another
one after this?
Speaker 3 (28:37):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
So for him, it's up to him to make the
best of this particular moment right now.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
This also might be a great landing spot for him.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Deebo Samuel's coming back from injury, so he might reassume
that role as the team's number two weapon. But Burt's
had a lot of similarities to Samuel coming out of school.
Who better to learn from him potentially get your career
back on the right track. Meanwhile, Washington, Samuel maybe nears
the end of his career, they might have a built
in replacement.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Now there you go, and Adam Peters has been known
to kind of look at players and evaluate them in
that particular way, and you hit the knell on the head.
Being around that franchise and those wide receivers could kind
of jumpstart his career, especially for a guy who was
looking for an opportunity to prove himself.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
I mean, it's a great it could be a great
situation for him. Absolutely, I agree. I think it worked
out about as well as Bert's could have hoped for.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Nick.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Thank you so much for.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Doing this with me tonight, making me look good. It's
an absolute treat. Whenever I get a chance to talk
ball with you, my friend.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Well, I definitely appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
Man.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
It's always a great time. Man. Look, it's all about teamwork, right.
There's no I in teams M and E, but there's.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Not an I.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
So poor Broncos Country tonight coming up right after this,
make sure you stay here for that.
Once again filling in it is Zack Segers, journed by
the one and only Nick Ferguson, and right now we'll
head on over to the KOA Common Spirit Health Hotline
to talk with the athletics one and only Nick Cosminder,
the incredible uh Broncos beat writer for The Athletic. You
can find him over on social media at Nick Cosminder.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
All.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
One word, Nick, how are you doing tonight? I'm great?
Speaker 4 (00:26):
How are you guys doing?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Doing well? Doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Enjoying all the all the sports action we have tonight?
I was checking out your story today. I really enjoyed it.
The statistical look at at maybe what's holding up this
this Broncos offense.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
For those that haven't had the chance to check it
out yet, what did you discover uh in terms of
some of those on off splits?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Well, yeah, I mean when you were going back and
kind of looking at the game, I think obviously there
was a lot of hammering about what what didn't go
right and naturally so, but I wanted to kind of
take a closer look of all, right, well, when they
were getting it going on, you know, the touchdown drive
or even when they put together a really good drive
to get the go ahead field goal before it's stalled
(01:12):
inside the ten. You know what was what was working there,
and it was it was kind of what we've seen
at different times this year, which is they go tempo, right,
they go no huddle. B Nix is able to sort
of get to the line with the personnel they already
have on the field and they start to get a
little bit of a rhythm and you know, again it's
(01:33):
a small sample size, right, The Broncos have run about
forty no huddle plays according to True Media, but their
efficiency is eighth in the league, and certainly I think
room to do more of it.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
I was talking to.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Mike McGlinchey about it this week in the locker room.
He says, it really is something you can kind of
feel like when you're struggling to get a rhythm that
if you can get to the line of scrimmage and
you can kind of just start moving downhill a little bit,
hit on a couple big plays, all of a sudden,
you feel like you're really kind of dictating the tempo
and you can't use it all the time because you'll
(02:07):
you'll turn, you know, drives that are already short they're
going three and out a lot into even shorter drives
and put your defense on the field way quicker than
they need to be.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
So they have to pick their spots.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
There's really only one team in the league that runs
no huddle, you know, half the time or more, and
that's the Washington Commanders. It's just how Cliff Kingsbury has
always operated. But I still think there's more room for
Denver to add to that as they're trying to kind
of figure out ways that they can just create something
of a rhythm offensively.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Well, Nick, with that, with that being said, what would
you say, at this stage of the season going into
I guess Week seven, what's the Broncos identity offensively? Where
can they kind of get to through this game and
to the next game and establish some form of identity
because right now on the stage, I have no idea
what that is.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yeah, that's the problem, Nick, is like they haven't been
able to firmly establish it, and every time you think
they're getting kind of close right there, there was a
stretch there where you know, JK. Dobbins and the run game,
you were starting to see that.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
And it happened in the second half against.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
The Chargers, you know, throughout the game against the Angles,
and then when they really needed it against the Eagles
as well, you started saying like that, that's where we
can get gone get we get JK. Dobbins rolling downhill
and you can start to build some play action off
of that, and that's what we can.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Be as an offense.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
And then you turn around and have a game like
you did against the Jets. Now we're going to see,
you know, just how much maybe Matt Parrett being compromised
in that game, you know, played into it, but he
was not the only one that didn't play well up front.
And so like this has to be I think a
bounce back game for this group, which is hard to
do against a defensive front that has four first round
(03:54):
draft picks, But that really does need to be their identity.
I think, you know, they have the capability of having
the best rushing attack that they've had certainly in the
Sean Payton era, and then maybe even going back for
the Broncos to you know, back to twenty twenty one
when when Javonte Williams was a rookie pair with Melvin Gordon.
That was kind of the last time that that was
their identity was a running football team. That's where they
(04:18):
got to be. And then I think they need to
continue to get Evan Ingram involved in this thing. I
think there there's a lot of situations where you can
get you know, him in choice route type matchups that
that he can win. I'd like to see some more
of that with Pat Bryant as well. You know where
you're where, you're just creating more one on one matchups
that you can win in the middle of the field.
(04:38):
They got to sprinkle that in there too. But but
I agree with you, they haven't. They haven't firmly established
any kind of identity that's been a moving target, and
I think until they can replicate something closer.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
To that, they're going to have a hard time struggling. Though.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
The only thing you can really hang your hat on
with his team is that they don't get sacked.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
And and that's not that's not nothing.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Because it is helping them avoid you know this and
dead Page's s field position most of the time, you know,
and that's a really good thing when you have a
defense as good as Denvers avoid putting them in bad spots,
and that goes a long way. But I still think They've.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
Got to get more explosive if they're going.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
To really be anything offensively.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Joining us is a Nick Cosminder with the athletic Nick.
Do you think they can continue to build on that
offensive identity or I guess maintain that offensive identity with
you know, now their third option at that left guard,
with Alex Powchwski starting for them this weekend for the
foreseeable future, with Powers and now paired on ir.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Well, yeah, they definitely need to hope that this like
that this sticks, I mean, because he's going to be
the third different starting left guard in as many weeks.
You know, I think there's something of a you know,
you don't always know what you got until it's gone,
and you know, I know that there were times that
people would be a little bit frustrated with with Ben
Powers here and there. But he's a good lineman. And
(06:01):
not only is he a good lineman, I think he's
good as a pairing with the Garrett Bowles. You know
that that's some of the most stability that Bowles has
had in his career as a Broncos left tackle, where
they've shuffled a lot of different guys next to him,
you know, Powers had started every single game since signing
here in twenty twenty three, and that I think had
a big impact on on Bowls. So they're going to
(06:23):
need this to stick so that they can get back
to some of the continuity and just read them that
they were starting to create before Powers went down. I
actually think that the Kalachowski move is the right one
to me when your roster is fully healthy. He's probably
their sixth best offensive lineman. And I know Sean Payton
talked a lot about you know, guys preferring left versus
(06:43):
versus right as opposed to just tackle versus guard. But
I think they're at a point now you just need
to put your best lineman in that spot, and I
think that's Kyalchwsky.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Now, the question is going to be the Broncos have.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Used heavy personnel, jumbo tight end, six offensive linemen, whatever
you want to call it. That's been a pretty heavy
part of their offense so far this year. I think
they're using those six offensive lineman formations the second highest
rate in the league this year. So if Paul Cheski's
moving to left guard, you know, do they put somebody
else in that role? You know, maybe a guy like
Frank Crumb and come in and play that role so
(07:16):
that you can continue to do some of those things,
or do you just kind of, you know, take that
out replace it with more traditional thirteen personnel. That's that's
one wrinkle to watch. But yeah, whatever it is, they've
got to be able to kind of find something consistently
and build some rhythm off of it. Because ben Powers
is not coming back anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
What can we say about this Denver Broncos defense that
hasn't been said thus far? And before you joined is
Zach and I were talking about John de Cooper and
Nick Benito And is there better as rush duo in
the game right now?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
No?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
I don't think so.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
You know, it's really interesting.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
I think the fact that they're honoring.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
The super we're both fifty team this weekend, and which
was obviously led by that no fly zone defense, it
creates kind of a great comparison point. So I have
a story coming out tomorrow sort of looking at those
two defenses and where they were after six games into
each of those seasons, and this twenty twenty five defense
is statistically better than where that group was six games
(08:21):
into the season in almost every way, a far better
red zone defensive percentage, better third down red zone percentage,
giving up fewer points per game, fewer yards per game,
more sacks. The only thing that that twenty fifteen unit
was doing better at this point in the season was
takeaways by a large amount. The twenty fifteen team had
(08:42):
seventeen takeaways in their first six games of the season,
an incredible rate. That year, they turned five of their
turnovers into touchdowns, and so like that was that would
maybe be the one next step for this current defense
is you know, can you turn all this pressure into
kind of an out blanch of takeaways. I think guys
in that locker room feel like that's the part that's coming,
(09:04):
just because you can't pressure that consistently and put yourself
in those situations and not eventually have the ball bounce
your way. So that's going to be the thing to watch.
But you know, of course, you only get to kind
of have that label as one of those all time
type defenses if you finish the job, if you win
the title.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
You know, the.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Defenses we remember are the ones that finished it with
a championship. So in that regard, the twenty twenty five
version has a long way to go. Of course, but
just at this six game way point, it's really it
was really interesting to kind of look at where those
two units were respectively.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Man, what a what a fun defense this has been
so far. That's going to be an excellent story to
read tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Must read it.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
And perfect timing with the big anniversary celebration of the
No Fly Zone this upcoming weekend or the Super Bowl
fifty championship team Nick Cosminder with the Athletic joining us
at Nick Cosminder on Twitter.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Thank you so much for giving us some of your.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
Time tonight, Nick, Yeah, I really appreciate if.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Always have a good night, you too, have a good one.
Once again, that was Nick Cosminder. Always love picking his brain,
and I thought he had some great insight there about
you know, where this offense is maybe trending, where this
defense is going from your experience as a defensive player,
that those takeaways the Broncos right now, they're fifth worst
(10:25):
in the NFL. They've only taken the ball away four
times this year despite being such a good defense with
high rates of pressure, really tight coverage.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
What do you think is.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Preventing them from getting those takeaways? And how do you
flip that switch as a defense if you can.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Well, you can't really try to flip that switch.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
And I know that's something that you know nationally is
being talked about, locally is being talked about, but I'm
sure we're inside that building. I'm sure Advance Joseph is
selling his players. Don't try to go out of your
way to create a turnover statistically, because when you go
out of your way to do that, you know what
you do. You don't play within the confinement of the defense.
(11:06):
You expose the defense. Instead of stopping what the opponent
from moving in advance in the ball, you've only exposed
the defense and you give them maybe an explosive.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
So the ideas just kind.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Of communicate play the game the way that you're being coached.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
To play jus a belichickism.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Do your job, just you know, stay within your role,
execute that role, and the turnovers will come.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah, because what happened when when you start chasing turnovers,
just like an offense chasing points, you put yourself in
a bad situation. There's bad offensive play, calls bad offensive execution. Defensively,
you're trying to punch the ball out instead of trying
to wrap the runner up you're trying to punch the
(11:51):
ball out.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Guess what he's doing. He's moving forward right.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
He's actually getting that team out of second.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
And long right or third and long.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
The idea if you have an opportunity to punch the
ball out, you punch the ball out like PS two did,
Or you have an opportunity where someone else three other
guys are now holding a running back or a ball carrier,
then you can come in and punch the ball out.
But the main objective is you have to limit the
yards after contact. That's what you have to do. But
(12:22):
if you try to go in and make interceptions that
turnovers happening, guess.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
What you're gonna end up on someone's highlight jah. You
don't want to allow those big explosive plays. With how
elite this defense is. I want to make you try
and go on a twelve play drive. Try and have
twelve plays.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
In a row against my defense without taking a sack
and putting yourself in a second and twenty.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Or something like that. That can kill the drive.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Lebronc is understandably like their odds to consistently blow up
those those longer drives as long as they're not allowing explosives.
It's going to be very, very hard to score on
this team.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, the only statistic that they need to be concerned
with is the W does make a difference how you
get it.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
But as long as you get.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
The W at the end of the day, that's all
that matters. Use the albrightism. What in the preseason, everything matters,
but the final score. In the regular season, nothing matters
but the final score. Out Let it feel like he's
still here. Coming up next Web in NFL six Pack
to dive into and get around or get to some
of the news all around the NFL that we haven't
(13:28):
got to yet.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Stay tuned. That's up next on Broncos Country tonight.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Big thank you to Nick Coswinder and Ryan Blackburn for
joining us talking about some nuggets, talking about some Denver Broncos.
If you missed any of that, you can go find
the full edition of the show all three hours wherever
you listen to podcasts or on the totally free and
awesome iHeartRadio app with it B and eight thirty eight
being the end of the show. You know what time
(13:58):
it is, Nick? What time is it toime for a
six packs?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Time for the NFL?
Speaker 4 (14:04):
SIA I'm gonna trink a lot and inside information you
can't find anywhere else.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
I know, the top six NFL headlines. What starting off here?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Excuse me starting off here with a little mini game
I wanted to play with you, Nick.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I think there are eleven.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
AFC teams still in the playoff hunt. The Buffalo Bills,
the New England Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals,
the Baltimore Ravens. So i'll go through them all here
in a second. Which of these teams do you think
are true contenders and who are the pretenders? We're just
lightning round through these. The Bills contenders are pretenders, Nick.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I'm saying pretenders. Oooh, Patriots contenders.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Oh that's a pretty big surprise there on the AFC East.
I know it was moving to the North. The Steelers
who played tonight.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Woop.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Bengals definitely pretenders, and the Ravens pretenders who so no
one legit in.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
The North, says Nick. Indianapolis Colts contenders, I like it.
Jags woom, that's a tough one. I'll go to man
Stay contenders.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
I like it. I like it. The Houston Texans, can
they write.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
The ship contenders, Los Angeles Chargers pretenders, Kansas City Chiefs
pretenders for sure? Whoam that's the that's the I think
the hottest take the Chiefs are pretend or what you
said contenders?
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Were? They thought? So? Okay? Yeah, for a second, I
was like, man, I must say that to tell it.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Okay, your last night last but certainly not least the
Denver Broncos Nick Ferguson. Right now as it stands, do
you think this team is a bunch of contenders or
a bunch of pretenders?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Contenders?
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Because in order to win championships you need your defense. Remember,
because we'll go fifty teen as being honor on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
How did they do that? Remind me again with their defense?
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Thank you enough said? The defense rests.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
And you know what that team at what of a
gubrand Wade Phillips and you knowing that team has yes
of a grand vance shows two tonight, Aaron Rodgers surpassed
Big Ben Roethlisberger for fifth place on the NFL's career
passing yards leader board. Has Aaron Rodgers come back this
season surprised you? And where do you think Rogers belongs
(16:25):
among the game's all time great quarterbacks. Is he a
top five guy all time, a top ten guy all
time or not even there?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Of course, I mean he's a top ten guy for sure,
because there's been a lot of joining quarterbacks over the
history of the game. When you have gone through super Bow,
you've been the league MVP for a while, that says
a lot about you know, your ability. And I love
Aaron Rodgers tenacity and the ability to give everyone the
middle finger regardless of what they think about him. You
(16:54):
need that type of gold to be able to play
in this league, but especially at that position.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
But he's definitely earned that right and he is one
hell of a player.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Dan if he keeps playing like this, It's funny how
he's really following the Brett Favre career projectory. You know,
I have a great career in Green Bay, kind of
flame out in New York and then land with a
well thought of organization and kind of write the ship
and get back to the playoffs. Right right now, it
seems like the Steelers will win a division and that's
you know, it's not going out as a Super Bowl champion,
(17:24):
but that's a pretty good way for Aaron Rodgers to go.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Out well, the first and foremost before you can even
talk super Bowl, you actually have to win your division,
and then you have to win a couple of playoff games.
So they have the right quarterbacks to do it. But
Kenny All put it all together. We'll just have to
wait and see.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
And the Steelers leading that division is part of the
reason why I think the Broncos might be contenders. To
your earlier point, I'm worried about a road playoff game
in Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
I'm not that scared of this Steelers team.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Well, right now, no one is afraid of Baltimore either,
because they can't stop and those bleed. So until Balti
more and so Buffalo and a lot of these teams
show they have a stop defense, then you can throw
all the points you want to, But if you can't
stop anyone in the clutch, you're not gonna win a
lot of games.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Three.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
This Weekend's Brown's Dolphins game will feature a matchup between
two attag of Iiloa and Dylan Gabriel as the starting quarterbacks.
That means it will be the first game first NFL
game since two thousand and six with a lefty with
two lefty starting quarterbacks a lefty representing either team in
(18:34):
the game. Are you surprised from a player's perspective, are
you surprised that lefty quarterbacks are such an extreme rarity?
And why do you think they are so hard to
come by to the point where we really haven't had
two concurrent starters that were left handed since two thousand
and six.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
I think that goes back to birth. You know, those
guys a born with just being a right handed quarterback,
and that's what everyone's kind of used to. Unless you're
am anecturius right then we'll see that. But then those
coaches who are kind of superstitious about that, they've been around,
you know, right on quarterbacks all their lives, and they
get a lefty, then it's like it seemed like that
(19:12):
guy's now boxing southpaw in their mind. But to me,
right left, as long as you could throw the ball,
great ball placement, anticipation, this shouldn't be a problem.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Are there any differences defending a left handed quarterback versus
right handed quarterback? I guess you're maybe looking for boots
rollouts to a different side, but is there any difference
in game planning?
Speaker 2 (19:30):
It's football, you're booting out to the right, you're booting
out to the left. The trajectory is probably going to
be the same. But lastly may be different for different guys.
But to me, it's still damn football, right. I mean,
just because the guys left handed doesn't really change anything.
Someone will say, well, maybe may take a little mustard off,
maybe may give him more.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
I don't care. They just throw the ball to the
open guy.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
Poor.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Since twenty eighteen, interim coaches are nine to nine in
their debut games. Now, a five hundred record might not
be all that impressive face value, but remember these are
guys coming in and taking over teams that just fired
their main head coach. So oftentimes there teams way below
five hundred. Yet these interim coaches and their debut games
(20:17):
five hundred and nine to nine records since twenty eighteen.
This weekend, Mike McCoy will join that list of interim
head coaches former Broncos offensive coordinator and Chargers head coach,
as he is now the Tennessee Titans interium head coach.
Are you buying into this premise of the interim coach
bump and do you think it could benefit the Titans
(20:39):
this week against the new England Patriots. And why do
you think from a player's perspective, we have seen you know,
over almost a decade now fairly consistent bumped from these
interim coaches coming out.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Well, here's the reason why. Once the head coach gets
fired and there's a guy.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Who's the intern as an interim head coach, you know,
that means jobs are on the line. Other people are
gonna get fired and guys are now looking around like.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Wow, if they fired him, they can fire me.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
So usually that's why you usually see teams or players,
you know, play better.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Coaches coach better, they coach harder because guess what they.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Know, this is the end of the row, like boys men,
So we're trying to get hit where we fit in.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
That's why it's time to start putting out the tape for.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
The other teams out there. Yeah, looking to scoop you.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Up, absolutely, because other teams are looking to see, okay, well,
with a coach being fired, we know the morale is
gonna be down. So who is still pushing through on
this losing team. It's no different than watching the Miami Dolphins,
right Who's going to continue to play on the one
to five team?
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Because we know, when you want to find someone gets fired.
Do you think this Titans team?
Speaker 1 (21:50):
I bet I you know, with the fact that they're
going from Brian Callahan to someone with head coaching experience
definitely helps. But do you think this Titans team will
be the better and maybe more dangerous down the stretch
now that they've got Mike McCoy at the helm.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
No, only read because the whole thing is McCoy was
there when Callahan was there.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
What has changed now he's in charge.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Maybe maybe you can get more of the plays that
he wanted to run that he couldn't run before. Maybe,
But you always get that bump because everyone knows that
someone's gonna get fired and now they're evaluating every guy
on the roster.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
I figure you have no worries about Drake May and
those Patriots going up against the Tits this week on them?
Speaker 2 (22:28):
No, nig I mean, trust me, Mike Verbel wants to
make very little work of that Tennessee Titans just to
get some get back.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
He's got a revenge game there, a legitimate one.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
I was one of the I don't know, more explosive
coaching departures I think we've seen in recent history.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Absolutely five.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Moving our focus to the college game. Here, Penn State
is suddenly the most coveted head coaching job in the
college game after they fired James Franklin surprisingly during their
three game losing streak where they've tumbled all the way
out of the rankings. Do you believe or sorry? That's
(23:08):
resulted in Kurt Signetti being re signed by Indiana to
an eight year, ninety three million dollar deal because they
don't want him to leave the building, and it's also
led to Matt Rule having to hop on the Pat
McAfee show to dismiss some of these rumors.
Speaker 7 (23:27):
Like it's better than when I was in Carolina and
they were chanting to fire me. So having other schools
maybe be interested in you is pretty cool. And but
I don't do that during the season. I don't mess
around with that.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
I'll play that.
Speaker 7 (23:39):
And at the same time, this is not a this
is not a jumping off job. This is a destination job.
This is one of the greatest places in the world.
This is a town of three hundred thousand people. This
is some everyone says, like Lincoln. It's three hundred thousand
people here in Lincoln, Like I can do whatever I
want here or I have a great young team, the
youngest team in the Big ten, think about how good.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Will be next year. Now, I'm not thinking about next year.
Speaker 7 (24:00):
But where we are right now, if we're learning, learning, learning,
think about where we're going to go with Dylan and
all these guys.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
So I refuse to be distracted.
Speaker 7 (24:08):
At the same time, it's will Asher alma mater. You
have to show it love and respect and and I
love pat Craft. They'll find the right coach for them,
whoever that is. But like, this is a destination job.
That should be a national bully, that should be a beast,
and I think we'll make our way to doing that.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
I got to ask you, Nick, do you believe Matt rule?
Speaker 2 (24:29):
All I heard was a bunch of coach speech because
he said he's not thinking about tomorrow, he's not thinking
about all of that. But then he talks about thinking
about next year.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Right.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
He mentioned it in his response itself. And it's always great.
You're always going to talk about the team that you're
with at that particular moment, and you're gonna flow so
much power to them. But if another team comes and
they're willing to give you a massive payday, because here's
what we know, money talks and we know what walks
the marathon that's going to change.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Oh your mind.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
But this is great to say, you know, make the
boosters feel great about themselves.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Remember mel Tucker.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
The CEEU bus right after he left the little alumni gathering,
I'm not going anywhere where.
Speaker 6 (25:12):
Did he end up Michigan State at about three hours time?
Speaker 3 (25:17):
So that's no I would tend to agree.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Do you think now during that he said that Nebraska
is a destination job. There's no reason to leave Nebraska.
Now the Vegas NS makers aren't listening to a. Matt
Rule is still the odds on favorite to become Penn
State's next head coach. But do you agree with him
that in the modern era of college football, the Nebraska
(25:41):
Cornhuskers are a destination job.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
No, they haven't been a destination job. Oh Jesse, see
you buss fans since Tom Osborne was there. So once
again that's the great thing to say to make them
think that it is a destination job. But also, here's
what you do by saying that my going on at McAfee.
Basically what you did was toe Pis State. We'll just
(26:04):
go ahead and find some more money that's basically what
you said.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Or Nebraska, We're gonna have to find some more money.
You know, kurtz Signetti just got ninety three from Indiana.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
But why because Pisst fans and people started talking about, well,
well maybe he would become the next Piste coach.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
We don't want him to meet, We don't want him
to go anywhere, you know. So what's what we had
to do. We had to pay him more. Did president yep?
Nick Saban retired and what happened.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
A bunch of coaches all around college football got a
whole lot of money to stay.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Put a whole lot of money. Six last one before
we're out of here.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
The Washington Commanders have won the Treylon Burks Sweepstakes. Freylon
Burks visited the Broncos earlier in the week, but did
not come to an agreement with the team. What are
your expectations for Burke's in the Nation's capital and do
you think this is a big missed opportunity for the
Denver Broncos.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Well, you don't know if it's a big missed opportunity
until Burks actually get us on the field and he
started making making plays. If he does that, then you
can look back on and say, well, the Broncos missed out,
but now you're going to the Commanders that has jayde
Damas as your quarterback, right, you got Terry McLaurin, who's out,
Deebo Samby.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
I mean you have some weapons there.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
So if Burkes can go and make some mate Adam Peters,
who's a GM, remember why he was drafted in the
first round by the Titans, then that changes so much.
So as we look at this, his production increases, he
starts to make plays, and then the Broncos wide receivers
are not making plays.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Maybe you go take a look at it.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
I do think this was a good choice from Treylon
Burke's camp. At least you know the Broncos that's a
little it's open at receiver. There's a little bit of
I don't know, battling for roles or whatnot behind Cortland.
Sutton is the clear number one. But I think you
look over at that washing and receive a room where
you know, maybe Luke McCaffrey is the number two option
(28:04):
right now, and that looks wide No disrespect to the Coloraden,
but that looks wide open right now to where if
Treylon Burks comes at all close to living up to
that first round pedigree. He might be the number two
target in that offense by the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
He could.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Right now, for him, it's about keeping his head down,
learning the system, trying to go out there and do
whatever they ask him to do, because you know, when
you're an undrafted player, you don't get a second and
third opportunity. For him, being a first rounder, he's always
going to get that opportunity. Now, will he get another
one after this?
Speaker 3 (28:37):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
So for him, it's up to him to make the
best of this particular moment right now.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
This also might be a great landing spot for him.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Deebo Samuel's coming back from injury, so he might reassume
that role as the team's number two weapon. But Burt's
had a lot of similarities to Samuel coming out of school.
Who better to learn from him potentially get your career
back on the right track. Meanwhile, Washington, Samuel maybe nears
the end of his career, they might have a built
in replacement.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Now there you go, and Adam Peters has been known
to kind of look at players and evaluate them in
that particular way, and you hit the knell on the head.
Being around that franchise and those wide receivers could kind
of jumpstart his career, especially for a guy who was
looking for an opportunity to prove himself.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
I mean, it's a great it could be a great
situation for him. Absolutely, I agree. I think it worked
out about as well as Bert's could have hoped for.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Nick.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Thank you so much for.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Doing this with me tonight, making me look good. It's
an absolute treat. Whenever I get a chance to talk
ball with you, my friend.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Well, I definitely appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
Man.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
It's always a great time. Man. Look, it's all about teamwork, right.
There's no I in teams M and E, but there's.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Not an I.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
So poor Broncos Country tonight coming up right after this,
make sure you stay here for that.
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