Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Still celebrating a Broncos victory over the Kansas City Chiefs,
number one in the AFC, as we head out to
the KAA Comma Spirit Health Highline and bring on Ian Rappaport,
our NFL Network Insider powered by Chevron. Chevron the human
Energy Company committed to our local communities and safely delivering affordable, reliable,
ever cleaner energy.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Ian.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Good afternoon, sir, Thank you so much for the time.
How are you you?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
No problem? What's going on?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Guys?
Speaker 4 (00:23):
How are you?
Speaker 5 (00:24):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
We're fantastic. I mean you can imagine how excited we
are here in Denver after winning that game yesterday afternoon.
What has been sort of the buzz that you've heard
off the Broncos win.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's an interesting one.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
The whole Broncos season has been interesting because.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
You know, I don't know how like aesthetically.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Pleasing it's been, you know, and generally, I mean, you
have teams that have great defenses, and the offenses just
sort of make plays when it matters, like sometimes it doesn't,
you know, quote unquote look great, which I think you
know is probably why Broncos fans are feeling like maybe
people don't fully appreciate them. But that's okay because the
(01:04):
winds still count. They're still you know, in commanding possession
of first place in the division. They still beat the Chiefs,
and I think, you know, are the biggest threat to Kansas,
you know, basically taking away Kansas City stranglehold on the
ANFCU West.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Really pretty fascinating honestly around the league?
Speaker 6 (01:27):
How do people look at the Broncos now at ninety two.
I'm sure a lot of people didn't envision this when
the season started. They'd be ninety two at the at
the break for them and you said, they've been winning ugly.
It hasn't been that pleasant at times, but they certainly
seem to have the clutch gene bo Nicks in particular,
(01:50):
They're going to be a formidi formidable team down the stretch.
How are people looking at them around the NFL?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (01:57):
Yeah, and I think you know, they do the things
that good teams really need to do in you know,
December and January when it gets really cold, which is
they hit and they run the football.
Speaker 8 (02:07):
You know.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Obviously that took a took a hit when JK. Dobbins
went out for the season. Obviously, there's a chance it
could be back in February, but I think, you know,
out for the season is generally kind of the thought,
and you know, so look, I think they're going to
be around when it matters.
Speaker 8 (02:25):
You know.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
The interesting thing is, and especially as it relates to
bo Nicks, is like, you know, there are plenty of
things you can point to where you can say, well,
you know, he's he's inconsistent, and like you know, for instance,
on you know, on the Thursday night game with it one,
it was sort of like, well, it's i mean, consistencies
only really makes plays at the end. But it's sort
of like that's what it is, and that's what the
(02:47):
NFL is, and I think that's how in the margin
Prairie is. You know, if you can hang around and make.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Important plays at the end, you can win.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Plenty games until you know, your consistency and your you know,
everything else kind of catches up. So, you know, I
think the Broncos are good enough. I think the record
is going to put them in a place where they're
gonna have some advantages in the playoffs. They'll have to
go play and win, but certainly looks like they're going
to be there.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Again, you know, how would you characterize the AFC right now?
It feels relatively wide open, especially as we consider teams
like Baltimore's, the Kansas City Chiefs, I guess, maybe even Cincinnati.
In that conversation, the Chargers had a tough loss yesterday,
and even Buffalo is playing for a wild card. It
seems like we have a lot of new blood there
at the top of the AFC right now.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, And I think that's you know, for those of
us who've been doing this a while, like, you know,
nothing against Kansas City obviously, but you sort of, you know,
nothing wrong with some new blood, some new faces. You
get into the playoffs and you're learning about people and
you're watching new people, and you know, it's like the
Bills are great, and my guess is they're going to
(03:55):
be there right at the end. But this Patriots team
is pretty fun and pretty fun to watch, you know.
I think the Ravens are, you know, kind of the
team that's lurking right now.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
One last week didn't even.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Play great, but are you know, back to five hundred
and Lamar's healthy, and you know, they're a team to
really really keep an eye on. The Cults are another one.
You know, nobody came into the season talking about the Colts,
and I think they've showed that they do it the
right way. They have some great weapons, they play defense well,
and they run the heck out of the ball. That's enough,
(04:28):
you know. But I'm looking forward to seeing some new
teams and learning about some new teams as you get
deep into the season and the postseason.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
Here Ian, regarding the Chiefs five and five, I'm hearing
some people say the end of a dynasty, Patrick Mahomes not.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Having a great year.
Speaker 6 (04:49):
They didn't look that great yesterday against the Broncos. I
could see why people would say that maybe the dynasty's
over for this season. But let's go look a little
bit forward after the season. Do you think they can
rebuild that mojo that they had with this group they
have right now?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Yeah. I'm not even ready to give up on the
season though, because as long as they have Patrick Mahomes,
they got a shot. I mean again, like, God forbid,
they get into the playoffs. Let's say they get into
the playoffs and they're the seventies. Who in the world
wants to face Who in the world wants to face
Patrick Mahomes? You know, who in the world. So I
(05:27):
think that's you know, I am not ready to give
up on the dynasty, and it's you know, it's like
when Joe Burrow said, and Owen said, you know, how
long is the Bengals playoff window open? He said, as
long as I'm playing. I would say this very very
same thing for Kansas City, no doubt, as long as
Mahomes is playing, the window is opening.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Have you heard anything on Jayden Daniel's potential availability on
the other side of this buy for Washington? I know
they lost yesterday. They're on a bit of a losing
streak right now. Does that impact at all the way
they would prepare to bring him back.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, you know, I just if if he's going to
get back out there, you'd sort of like if it
was all worth it, you know. Now, he's gonna want
to play, just like Joe Burrow is gonna want to play.
All these guys want to play. They are football players
and know what they do, They play football. So he's
gonna want to get out there and it'll be interesting
to see, you know, kind of what the team does
(06:22):
do they you know, protect him from himself and if
he's fully cleared, you know, shouldn't he be able to say, like,
I want to play. So I think there's some big
decisions coming. My general sense was that, you know, the
Broncos game would maybe be a game too early, but
(06:44):
no one has ruled it out either, so you know,
we'll we'll see, and I think more information coming later
in the week because the plan was to evaluate Jayden
throughout the buy and that's kind of where they're at now.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
The last one I have for you, Michael Pennix junior
going on I are kind of another tough injury for
him over the course of his young career. The Falcons
are three and seven, and I obviously going to go
to Kirk Cousins. Now, what do you think that this
does for maybe their future plans at quarterback, assuming that
this season continues down the trajectory that they missed the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Well, I would say this, like there's some ACL damage
for Michael Pennix, and so if he ends up having
ACL reconstruction is probably right up against the start of
the year next year, at the very least, they're going
to have to bring in some protection for him, a
bridge starter, a really good backup, you know, someone like
(07:37):
Kirk cousins, but hard to imagine it is Kirk counsin hawss.
He decides to take a very very very low deal,
you know, or less he you know, maybe plays lights
out the next month and everything has to be reconsidered,
so you know, they'll need sort of a backup plan.
But if you're asking, do I think that they've stopped
thinking Michael Penicks as a franchise quarterback? I don't. I
(07:58):
think the people who are there still invested in him,
people who made the pick.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I think there's a lot to like.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
He's just, you know, a quarterback without a ton of
NFL experience, who you know, unfortunate. It has done some things,
It made some throws, it makes at various times it
makes you think that he's the guy. But then at
other times they're kind of like, all right, is he
so still plenty of answers to come in Atlanta?
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, no doubt about it. Ian always appreciated me. Able
to check in me next week.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Okay, thanks guys, Thank Eric.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Tell you Ian Rockaport, our NFL Network insider. We'll get
that up a Kwacolorado dot com.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
The whole Broncos season has been interesting because you know,
I don't know how like aesthetically pleasing it's been, you know,
and generally when you have teams that have great defenses
and the offenses just sort of make plays when it matters,
like sometimes it doesn't quote unquote look great, which I
think is probably why Broncos fans are feeling like maybe
people don't fully appreciate them. But that's okay, because the
(08:56):
winds still count. They're still you know, in commanding possess
first place in the division. They still beat the Chiefs
and I think, you know, are the biggest threat to
you know, basically taking away Kansas City stranglehold on the
AFC West really pretty fascinating, honestly for you're.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Like, you know, it's a bit of not a parade
because you don't say a parade for a regular season game,
but it's a big win. It's a massive win considering
the stakes and considering the vibes. We talked about it
last week, the vibes coming off the Raiders game. How
are they going to respond? They play up and they
played down to their competition. They absolutely played up to
the Chiefs and they won that game. And they won
(09:34):
that game in a lot of ways. How the Chiefs
tend to win games, which is the offense gets the
ball last and they don't give it back to the
opposing posing team. Yeah, I mean the vibes, thank you. Yeah,
I said that, But that's that's what it was. So
here an Ian there, and I always like getting his
sense of what other people around the league are saying
about the Broncos. There's still a little bit of a tepid,
(09:57):
as you said, tepid feel about this team.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
That's why I asked him that question. And I did
feel like he was a little lukewarm on them. Maybe
we believe in him here in Denver and the rest
of the NFL country. Man, they've seen enough bad things
from the Broncos because Broncos have been on national TV
quite a bit. I was driving in this morning and
I listened to the ESPN National Show driving and I
(10:23):
couldn't wait to hear how they would lead off the
show at five o'clock in the morning as they wrap
they do their weekend wrap up. Never even mentioned the
Broncos when I was driving in, Like whoa. And I
did take note of that, like maybe to the rest
of the country, not that big of a deal. Here
in Broncos Country. This is the biggest win this team
has had in ten years. Significant and you beat Patrick Mahomes, yes,
(10:46):
and the Chiefs in a game that really mattered.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
So I don't know.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
I guess the rest of the league is they want
to see more. I think that's what they want to see,
is more.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I mean the Broncos with Bone as their quarterback, our
one blocked field goal away from Nicks, owning Mahomes, beating
him head to head twice, and beating the Chiefs three
times again. I'm not gonna cat that last one at
the end of the last year because they played their backups.
But the point of it is, is like your one
flukey blocked field goal, a thirty five yarder by the
way away from sweeping and beating soundly those teams. So yeah,
(11:25):
I guess I kind of see it. There's a little
bit of a show me. Maybe it's because the league
has become high level quarterback league. Like everybody that is,
anybody that believes in whatever team it is, they got
to have one of those guys like Josh Allen. He's
had some inconsistent moments this year, but he had a
six touchdown day yesterday because he's that guy. And we
(11:48):
know Patrick Mahomes can be that guy. Lamar Jackson can
be that guy. We were just asking Ian about the
AFC picture, the playoff picture, and you've got Daniel Jones,
You've got Drake May, You've got Bon Knicks, and I
guess Aaron Rodgers there at the top for the top four, right.
I mean though, those are kind of the top four
quarterbacks in the standings right now. And Aaron Rodgers is hurt,
(12:11):
so we'll see what ends up happening there in the
AFC North. But that's a weird deal, right, And so
I can see why people are like, I don't know,
I don't know about the top of the AFC because
most of the chatter I was listening to is like, hey,
if the Bills will be in it, they'll be a
wildcard team the Chiefs if they make it, and nobody's
gonna want to play the Chiefs. Like that is what
the discussion today has been, is if the Chiefs can
(12:33):
make it in, nobody's gonna want to play them. Nobody's
gonna want to play Lamar, nobody's gonna want to play
Josh Allen. Because everybody views it as it's if you
either have that quarterback or you don't. And until you
prove you're one of those quarterbacks, they don't believe in you.
Speaker 6 (12:44):
Yeah, those guys are much more accomplished than they've been
around a whole lot longer. Bon Knicks in the middle
of his second year and growing still, and he will
get better. We said going into this game against the Chiefs,
you're going to see a much better version of bon Nicks.
We both thought of that, all of us, you, me
and Dave last week thought that the Broncos offense would
(13:05):
show up in the game. And they did. And that's
with all the injuries, that's without JK. Dobbins. There's two
things that concern me move it forward. Number One, all
the penalties. Broncos need to clean those up, and they're
still winning despite being the most penalized team in the league.
Number Two is can they run the ball when it
(13:25):
really matters?
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Yesterday?
Speaker 6 (13:28):
I keep saying last night because it was dark when
the game ended, But yesterday they they're just not consistent
running the ball, and I don't know if they can
get any better with the running backs that they have.
They have the line. We know that JK. Dobbins was
running the ball very effectively. But with these three running backs,
(13:49):
can they do the job when it really matters? And
I'm talking in the playoffs? That remains to be seen now, right.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Jake Plumber, Okay, let's talk about the running game when
we come back. I definitely want to get into that
a little bit more, because you're right, that is a
big factor of not only what they've been doing, but
what they need to be doing going forward. By the way,
this Wednesday, let's help those in need with Ko's Holiday
Food Drive benefiting Food Bank of the Rockies. Join Kowa
nine to nine at King Supers on Colorado and Yale.
Donate Turkey's food or cash through a qte R code
(14:21):
presented by Redbird Farms Colorado Buick GMZ Dealers in KOA.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Cuts it back off left guard and they try to
get a good push and they continue to push and
a third of the goal line and it is a
differ touchdown with a penalty flag throne off sides Kansas City.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
That score counts.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
I'll tell you what, Julia McLoughlin's showing you some toughness,
you know.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
I just want to give it everything I got for
my team. Oh whenever my name is Gauls, So I'm
grateful for getting an opportunity to play yesterday and he
got a touchdown, which was great. And that postgame interview
with Susie is up on our website Kwaclorado dot com
with all of our postgame interviews, and we'll hear from
Bo Nicks with voice the Broncos Dave Logan a little
bit after five point thirty tonight. But let's talk a
(15:05):
little b about the running game, because you said it
a moment ago, Rick that it obviously wasn't up to
the standard of what we've seen this season, but I
don't think anybody expected it to be. With JK. Dobbins
going on IR and likely out for the season, though
they did open the possibility off the Broncos make the
Super Bowl, he can be available for that, but let's
just for not for now. You know, I think the
(15:26):
Broncos have an argument for that. Let's just for now
say JK. Dobbins is not available for the rest of
the season. So where do you go from here?
Speaker 4 (15:34):
Now?
Speaker 1 (15:35):
You can could go grab somebody right there andreck estimate
out there or who had been bring up for a
Bronco that I'm space's name right now? Oh yeah, Latavious
Murray as another name.
Speaker 5 (15:51):
I heard that.
Speaker 6 (15:53):
I don't know, man, I'd rather get somebody off a
practice squad.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
He's not even in the league anymore.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
No, he's retired.
Speaker 6 (15:59):
Yes, so I would look at somebody's practice squad. Jeff Wilson,
the guy played quite a bit of football for the
forty nine ers. I thought he was a decent back
for them. He's a guy that you could go get.
Who's the other one you mentioned? I mentioned Rick Estimate.
(16:19):
I don't I don't know if he'd be a game changer.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Well, you know, I don't have a game changer, and
I don't think you're going to find one just hanging
around because most of these body for some short yardage situations.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Okay, I'd be okay with that. You got nothing to
lose by bringing him back, and he knows the system.
That's actually a pretty solid choice. He's not a guy
who's going to be, you know, your primary ball carrier.
And the question is who is going to be your
primary ball carrier. I thought it was going to be R. J. Harvey,
and he did take most of the snaps running the ball.
(16:52):
He's still just not a proven commodity running the ball.
Yet he shows flashes. He looks like a guy who
could break one at any time, but he gets stopped.
He seems to be making kind of poor decisions as
a running back, like picking the wrong lane at times,
and you know, get stopped.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
For a yard or two yard gain. It's really too bad.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
JK.
Speaker 6 (17:15):
Dobbins went down, and when I heard Ian Rappaport talk
about Willie could be back in February, I never even
thought about that. That's so far down the road. I
did see Lane Johnson hit a list Frank and they're
saying that he's not gonna have surgery, So I'm sure
they explored that option with Dobbins. Could he get by
(17:35):
not having surgery bring him back in six weeks. Maybe
it's really too bad, man, because they really had it
going and you're gonna need to run the ball in
the playoffs. There's all these games in the playoffs. They
are tight games like we've been playing. So this team
is built to win those kind of games, but you
need to be able to run the ball.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
Maybe RJ.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
Harvey will emerge as a guy you can count on,
at least to a point. I don't think you're any
give him twenty carries a game. Maybe give him fifteen
if he could, if he could even run for sixty
five yards, I think it would help you out well.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
And I'm I'm inclined to continue to invest there. I
agree that the returns of yesterday's game, I mean, the
numbers speak to themselves. Eleven carries for thirty yards every
two point seven, right, it a long of seven, right. JK.
Dobbins was significantly more productive for the team, and he
(18:28):
would have been more productive if he was out there yesterday.
All that being said, I'll start with the positives. Okay,
Julia McLoughlin's got fresh legs. That was very clear, right.
He had a couple of nice burst moments. It looked
like he could. He only got eight carries in the
eight touches I think total rate snaps. Sorry, he got
six carries, he got six eight total snaps. He had
(18:51):
one catch for negative five yards, which, by the way,
was so obnoxious. The quick whistle on Jill McLoughlin. Oh yeah, oh,
I was so frustrated by it and watching it back
today like that, that moment and then the foul against
Riley Moss. I mean, I like one of the other pi's,
(19:13):
but the illegal contact that negated John Ay Barns pick six,
Like those two MOMENTSNT for me specifically, watching back, I
was even more angry the second watch.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Very inconsistent in the way they called that game. I
know we have a bias here, we're the hometown broadcast crew,
but I mean, honestly, I can I can say that
this that that was inconsistent. They didn't call it the
same way against the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (19:42):
They were letting obvious call obvious holds when you can
see a hold from the press box and they don't
call it, And we saw at least two of those
in that game yesterday. It does feel like the league,
the reps have it out for the Broncos. I don't
think they officially do, but there does seem to be
(20:05):
a case where they're trying to help the Chiefs home.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Are this right?
Speaker 6 (20:10):
I mean right, Okay, go ahead and say it, Dave,
But it does feel like when you've got a dynasty
like the Chiefs, that they they're going to give them
the benefit of the doubt.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
When you have a team.
Speaker 6 (20:21):
Like the Broncos that are really coming on pretty much
out of nowhere, where nobody thought they would be. They're
not going to get the benefit of the doubt. And
that's happening with Riley Moss too. On some of these
PI calls. That's exactly what's happening. Some are obvious, but
some are really really close. I almost said a bad word.
Some are really really close calls that could go either way.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
So for me, for the running back, the positives are
Julian McLoughlin looks like his pre fresh legs.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
So I liked Juliel.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I think you you could roll him out a little
bit more. I still think they need a bigger back,
but I'm continue to invest in RJ. Harvey and the
biggest reason why is what he was able to do
in college. And then you heard Sean Payton earlier this
week say we drafted you to be a runner, and
he was a very dynamic running back. In fact, he
was underutilized as a pass catcher at UCF. He was
(21:09):
great running the ball there. The only concern I really
had was more of the longevity of how many yards
he already had right Trent on the tires kind of conversation.
But we've seen guys like Jonathan Taylor come into the
league and that was a big discussion about him, and
he's been phenomenal, so I'm inclined to believe that he
still has something there. It just needs to continue to
be developed, which means he needs reps and he needs time,
(21:31):
and he needs to gain confidence. And you're only going
to do that if you keep giving him those opportunities.
If you start to dial it back, then I think
you risk some of the development that you've already given.
Speaker 6 (21:43):
That's an excellent, excellent take, and what the cushion the
Broncos have now at nine to two, you can afford
to give him a little bit of time. You know,
they have two weeks off here to get ready for
the next game. You get maybe a couple of games
after that where you can maybe get him comfortable and
get him going. I think that's an excellent way to
look at that. Regarding Jaliel, I'd like Jaliel a lot.
(22:06):
He's made plays in the past. He's the hardest working
guy on the team. Everybody will tell you that, and
you know what, for a little guy, he doesn't mind
busting runs right right up the middle. R. J. Harvey
is a different kind of runner. Even though he's bigger
than Jaliel. He seems to hesitate a lot when they're
(22:28):
trying to run inside with him, like he's not sure
what he should. Sometimes he just kind of stutter steps
around a little bit. Then he makes that every now
and then you'll see him make a really quick cut
and find a little laid and that's what he's really
really good at. But you're right, I think you nailed it.
I don't think he has the confidence yet. He's not
quite sure what to do with the ball when he
gets it.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
This is only the second time this season he's at
double disja carries. The second I mean eleven games in
the season and the only other one he had was
in basically garbage time against Dallas where they were giving
him some opportunities to get some extra run. But otherwise
he hasn't had a lot of time. He has all
been single digit carried games until yesterday. He hasn't had
(23:10):
high leverage. You're our guy, and and once again he
he was productive. Right. He didn't have a lot of
in he tackled tackles for loss. He had a couple
of no gainers in there, but he was he was
constantly looking for it and nothing else. I'll give him.
This is his development and timing and rhythm with bon
(23:31):
Nicks in the passing game has really come along nicely.
There's a couple of moments where Kansas City was bringing
extra pressure and he turned his head right away. You
know the sack that boon Nicks took in the red
zone on the very first drive on the third down,
the third goal that they were they were there and
he took a sack from Chris Jones. I believe that
play was designed for RJ. Harvey. It just so happened
(23:54):
that they had a good coverage for what the Broncos
were trying to do. But I believe that was designed
to go to r J. Harvey. He just had a
coverage there in a flat for him. But otherwise, I
really like the chemistry that they've built there in the
passing game, in the quick passing game. So I'm inclined
to want to keep him on the field as much
as possible because you know you have that available. And
the other side of that is you're not tipping your hand.
(24:16):
So many times with Julen McLoughlin in the last couple
of years, it felt like every time he was in, well,
he's not in for pass pro he's in to hand
the ball off to him. So I feel like you
got you got a lot more with r. J. Harvey,
and there's a reason why you draft him the second round.
So even if you bring in an Adric Estimatey or
Latavious Murray or some other bigger back, because you want
(24:36):
to have somebody for short yardage, which maybe you just
give it to Adam Prentiss or Nate Adkins or somebody
like that, I'd say I want to continue to invest
in r. J. Harvey because if he has some kind
of second half explosion like we're seeing with Trayvon Henderson,
we're seeing with some of these other rookie running backs,
well then I want to be there for it. And
(24:57):
I think that this team can go to another level
if he ends up being what they think he can be.
Speaker 5 (25:02):
Yeah, the potential's all there. You can see it.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
And he's had two long runs on the season, one
forty one fifty yard, but outside of those, it's been
a bunch of three yard carries.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
This is a guy like check this out of UCF
right two hundred three and two carries last year five
hundred and seventy seven yards, averaging six point eight per carry,
twenty two rushing touchdowns year before, two hundred and twenty
six carries, one thousand, four hundred and sixteen yards, averaging
six point three per carry, sixteen rushing touchdowns, thirty eight
rushing touchdowns over the last two years, and basically three
(25:34):
thousand rushing yards. And again, he was underutilized in the
passing game, only twenty carry or twenty catches and nineteen
catches in the previous two years before that. So he's
got he's got it, like he has that ability. It's
not like you brought in a change of pace back
and now you're trying to teach him how to run.
He knows how to run. You just got to give
(25:54):
him those chances.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
You want to see him throwing the ball anymore?
Speaker 6 (25:58):
After what we saw yesterday, please got Yeah that was
that was scary. Yeah that that could have gone really
really bad. Yeah, and he was a quarterback a long
time ago.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
Well, high school, We're going to see it.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
It's gonna happen. Like you know, Sean, Sean's been setting
this thing up. He's frozed.
Speaker 6 (26:18):
I wouldn't have him throw the ball across the field.
What I would do with him is pitch it out
to him and then throw it downfield, not across.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
The field or a lot of them a wildcat, you know, like, hey,
have him take the direct sall have him take the
direct snap and then make him look like he's getting
ready to run it and then he can throw.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
Yeah, that play. I don't think anybody wants to see that. Again.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Good heads up by both though.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
As far as a big running back at the goal line,
how about this. They may have a secret weapon on
the team already.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Andre Tillman, Wow, think about that going outside the box here.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
I like it.
Speaker 6 (26:54):
Yes, he's got two interceptions, both of them long returns
where he look very comfortable with the ball in his hands.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
It was shocking to watch.
Speaker 6 (27:04):
He was running over people, he was making cuts, he
was he was switching the ball into the right hand
depending on which direction he was going. Looked like this
guy's played running back before and he's a big dude.
I would think after seeing that, Sean Payton's got to
be trying to scheme up some goal line plays with him.
Speaker 5 (27:23):
Now.
Speaker 6 (27:23):
Obviously, when you put him in the game, everybody knows
what's going to happen, but they still might now be
able to stop it just like the toushbush. They know
you're going to do the toushbush, they can't stop it.
This guy, he could be the new refrigerator.
Speaker 5 (27:36):
Perry.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
I like where your head's at. But I think I
would probably lean him more as a as a fullback,
first as a lead blocker and then.
Speaker 8 (27:47):
Either one yeah to him sometimes and then they're setting
up the possibility that he could ever be like short
yardage slash goal line kind of thing where you hand
him the ball instead of handing it to the running back.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
I could be into that. I mean, he certainly seems
very excited about He leads the team in interceptions, so
that is something that I mean, I don't know, he's fun.
He's it's a fun group, right And you and I've
been talking about this now for quite some time. And
I saw Will Lutz tweeting about this that you know
(28:20):
he loves this team. Wanted let me see what he said.
He was talking about our guy. Ryan Coniesberg pointed out
that Sean Payton has already celebrating that Will LUTs was
going to make the field goal before he actually made it.
And then uh, he said, they looked right at Will
Lutson and already put up his hands like, hey, you
already made it kind of thing, and Will Will Lutts said, yeah,
right at me, and I did it right back. Love
(28:40):
everything about this team nice. There is something about the vibe,
right and I don't play the drop, but there is
something about that group that is really bought in, don't Yeah,
I mean the vibes God, that is bought into the
vision of what they are. And then that's the reason
why I've had so many fourth quarter comebacks. Why Bo
(29:02):
Nicks specifically over the last two years has more comebacks
than any quarterback over a two year span in the
history of the game.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
It's pretty amazing.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
Yeah, what that stat alone, think about that, that's incredible
in the history of the National Football League in the
two years. Yep, Yeah, that's quite the stat. Bo Nicks's
clutch and he has been since day one. He's been
that guy, and that's that's a special attribute to have
as an athlete. Not everybody has that, And I don't
(29:32):
know if that's something you're born with. When I look
at bow Nicks, I look at him as he was
the son of a coach, right, His dad coached him
up from the time he was a little boy all
the way through his high school and college years. And
I think that's part of it. Bo just gets it.
He just knows the game. And BO is at its
(29:55):
best when the chips are down and when you need
to make a play. And there's just some people like that.
Their blood pressure goes down, it doesn't go up. They
relax when they're in that position. Man, it's great to
have that guy as your quarterback. John Elway was the same.
John Elway would play some pretty bad football for three quarters,
(30:16):
three and a half quarters in a close game. You know,
John always going to win it for you. Bon Knicks
has become that guy.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
I think that's the beauty of the game.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
The beauty of the game is the beauty of the game.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Well, and I don't know if we don't. I think
there's too many expletives. But Adam Troutman was going off
in the locker room last night about some of the
hate that bon Knicks is getting, so they have his
back and that that has been certainly an important part
of this process because he's come under a lot of
fire and some of it deserve it, right, And part
(30:49):
of that is because Sean Payton built him up to
what should be maybe a very lofty level. Simultaneously, people
are I think sometimes the other shoot to drop on
some of these guys. I'll say this, when it comes
to like the development of the offense and the realization
of what they are and what they could be, you
(31:11):
certainly hope they do eventually become that team, right, Like
you see the flashes of it and you say, well,
if they just put this together, and he's one of
the best fourth quarter comebacks in the league right now.
But because he's not doing all of that stuff all
the time, he doesn't get to be in the conversation
of MVP caliber core quarterbacks as they put it that
graphic every single day of like these are the guys,
(31:32):
the betting favorites, and it's like you're leading the AFC
and you're not even in the conversation. Well, you know why,
because you only do it in one quarter. You need
to do it more consistently, and you need to do
it pretty much every single day, every single day. But
I'll take where they're at now, knowing that they haven't
played their best football yet, that they are still hungry
and pushing for their best football, and that keeps them grounded.
(31:56):
You know, you were talking about it a little bit
earlier about you know, you didn't maybe I was actually
talking about with the temper. But it's just like this,
like they're not getting buttered up by anybody. Even we
had ian rapport order. He's not buttering up the Broncos.
He's like, yeah, it's they're an interesting team. You know,
they're nine and two, but they're kind of an interesting team.
That's that's the mindset. So I'm I'm great with it.
(32:18):
I am more than great with it because keep doubting,
keep telling these guys that they're not playing good enough
because it's working.
Speaker 6 (32:27):
I'd like you, man, I'd rather be under the radar
and then exceed expectations then beyond the radar. I didn't
really care for Sean Payton saying that preseason. I thought
it put a target on their back. I'm sure he
said it now looking back at nine to two. He
said it that let the team know, hey, man, be
confident because you guys have super Bowl caliber talent. I okay,
(32:50):
now I get that, but yeah, I'm the same. I
want to be under the radar and let's keep it
that way. Let's keep it that way down the stretch
and when you think they're nine and two and they
haven't played their best football yet and that's to come.
Their best best football is ahead of them. And another
thing Sean Payton says that I love. He said, we're
going to play in bigger games. And he's been saying
that all along. And when you talk like that, man,
(33:14):
these young guys, man, they're heavily influenced by that type
of talk, and they're they're bought in and they're believing.
They're beolieving nice if you want to put it that way.
And Bo's going to get better. I'm confident Bo will
continue to get better. He's that kind of guy. He's
a hard working dude and he takes it very seriously.
(33:37):
And there's been some quarterbacks in the league that were
first round draft picks that didn't I won't name any names.
They just thought they could show up. But he's not
that guy. He's going to get better. The only concern,
once again, the running running back situation. Can you run
the ball when it really matters? We didn't see that yesterday.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
On the text line five six six nine zero, you're
reading my mind about Tillman. I was just going to
text it, but I was driving. I just feel like
you continue to develop the guys you have if you
want to get clever or cute. I mean, I guess
there's an argument for it. I like the short yardage idea.
I like him more as a lead blocker than necessarily
handling the ball.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
You can do both.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
We'll see. Well let's see here. Well, then you're also
doing this half back pass in the red zone. You
almost took away at least three points and had a
ten point swing. No that I mean that was I
mean it just sort of hung up there. Good for
both to play defense. I've been waiting to see Harvey
toss a half back pass. I hope I have to
(34:37):
wait a long time to see it again.
Speaker 5 (34:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (34:41):
Yeah, I think Cortland Sutton's a better passer than him,
based on what I saw from that throw yesterday. Court
can throw the ball all right, and he has he's
got a touchdown pass, and Harvey could do that. That
just wasn't the play to try that across the field.
Speaker 5 (34:57):
Too many trick plays.
Speaker 6 (34:58):
Now, this is two games in a row where they've
called up trick plays in really clutch situations that didn't work.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Not when you're already moving the ball, right. I think
one was like a second and one or third and one,
and you're calling and that was the double pass. Right,
you're like third and one. You've been running the ball,
you've been gaining yardage, and then you're like third and one,
let's go ahead and throw it deep, and you're just
like okay. And then and then Corlan got sacked in
the process. Right, it's double pass with Courland sudden. Then
(35:28):
he got sacked and lost five yards and now you're
at a field goal range.
Speaker 6 (35:31):
Yeah what Yeah, that's two games in a row that
I don't think we'll see that r J.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
Harvey play again this year. I really don't.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
I don't think so either. All right, marbit tacks five six, six,
nine zero. We're gonna hear with from Botnix coming up
here in just a minute.
Still celebrating a Broncos victory over the Kansas City Chiefs,
number one in the AFC, as we head out to
the KAA Comma Spirit Health Highline and bring on Ian Rappaport,
our NFL Network Insider powered by Chevron. Chevron the human
Energy Company committed to our local communities and safely delivering affordable, reliable,
ever cleaner energy.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Ian.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Good afternoon, sir, Thank you so much for the time.
How are you you?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
No problem? What's going on?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Guys?
Speaker 4 (00:23):
How are you?
Speaker 5 (00:24):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
We're fantastic. I mean you can imagine how excited we
are here in Denver after winning that game yesterday afternoon.
What has been sort of the buzz that you've heard
off the Broncos win.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's an interesting one.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
The whole Broncos season has been interesting because.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
You know, I don't know how like aesthetically.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Pleasing it's been, you know, and generally, I mean, you
have teams that have great defenses, and the offenses just
sort of make plays when it matters, like sometimes it doesn't,
you know, quote unquote look great, which I think you
know is probably why Broncos fans are feeling like maybe
people don't fully appreciate them. But that's okay because the
(01:04):
winds still count. They're still you know, in commanding possession
of first place in the division. They still beat the Chiefs,
and I think, you know, are the biggest threat to Kansas,
you know, basically taking away Kansas City stranglehold on the
ANFCU West.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Really pretty fascinating honestly around the league?
Speaker 6 (01:27):
How do people look at the Broncos now at ninety two.
I'm sure a lot of people didn't envision this when
the season started. They'd be ninety two at the at
the break for them and you said, they've been winning ugly.
It hasn't been that pleasant at times, but they certainly
seem to have the clutch gene bo Nicks in particular,
(01:50):
They're going to be a formidi formidable team down the stretch.
How are people looking at them around the NFL?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (01:57):
Yeah, and I think you know, they do the things
that good teams really need to do in you know,
December and January when it gets really cold, which is
they hit and they run the football.
Speaker 8 (02:07):
You know.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Obviously that took a took a hit when JK. Dobbins
went out for the season. Obviously, there's a chance it
could be back in February, but I think, you know,
out for the season is generally kind of the thought,
and you know, so look, I think they're going to
be around when it matters.
Speaker 8 (02:25):
You know.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
The interesting thing is, and especially as it relates to
bo Nicks, is like, you know, there are plenty of
things you can point to where you can say, well,
you know, he's he's inconsistent, and like you know, for instance,
on you know, on the Thursday night game with it one,
it was sort of like, well, it's i mean, consistencies
only really makes plays at the end. But it's sort
of like that's what it is, and that's what the
(02:47):
NFL is, and I think that's how in the margin
Prairie is. You know, if you can hang around and make.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Important plays at the end, you can win.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Plenty games until you know, your consistency and your you know,
everything else kind of catches up. So, you know, I
think the Broncos are good enough. I think the record
is going to put them in a place where they're
gonna have some advantages in the playoffs. They'll have to
go play and win, but certainly looks like they're going
to be there.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Again, you know, how would you characterize the AFC right now?
It feels relatively wide open, especially as we consider teams
like Baltimore's, the Kansas City Chiefs, I guess, maybe even Cincinnati.
In that conversation, the Chargers had a tough loss yesterday,
and even Buffalo is playing for a wild card. It
seems like we have a lot of new blood there
at the top of the AFC right now.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, And I think that's you know, for those of
us who've been doing this a while, like, you know,
nothing against Kansas City obviously, but you sort of, you know,
nothing wrong with some new blood, some new faces. You
get into the playoffs and you're learning about people and
you're watching new people, and you know, it's like the
Bills are great, and my guess is they're going to
(03:55):
be there right at the end. But this Patriots team
is pretty fun and pretty fun to watch, you know.
I think the Ravens are, you know, kind of the
team that's lurking right now.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
One last week didn't even.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Play great, but are you know, back to five hundred
and Lamar's healthy, and you know, they're a team to
really really keep an eye on. The Cults are another one.
You know, nobody came into the season talking about the Colts,
and I think they've showed that they do it the
right way. They have some great weapons, they play defense well,
and they run the heck out of the ball. That's enough,
(04:28):
you know. But I'm looking forward to seeing some new
teams and learning about some new teams as you get
deep into the season and the postseason.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
Here Ian, regarding the Chiefs five and five, I'm hearing
some people say the end of a dynasty, Patrick Mahomes not.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Having a great year.
Speaker 6 (04:49):
They didn't look that great yesterday against the Broncos. I
could see why people would say that maybe the dynasty's
over for this season. But let's go look a little
bit forward after the season. Do you think they can
rebuild that mojo that they had with this group they
have right now?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Yeah. I'm not even ready to give up on the
season though, because as long as they have Patrick Mahomes,
they got a shot. I mean again, like, God forbid,
they get into the playoffs. Let's say they get into
the playoffs and they're the seventies. Who in the world
wants to face Who in the world wants to face
Patrick Mahomes? You know, who in the world. So I
(05:27):
think that's you know, I am not ready to give
up on the dynasty, and it's you know, it's like
when Joe Burrow said, and Owen said, you know, how
long is the Bengals playoff window open? He said, as
long as I'm playing. I would say this very very
same thing for Kansas City, no doubt, as long as
Mahomes is playing, the window is opening.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Have you heard anything on Jayden Daniel's potential availability on
the other side of this buy for Washington? I know
they lost yesterday. They're on a bit of a losing
streak right now. Does that impact at all the way
they would prepare to bring him back.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, you know, I just if if he's going to
get back out there, you'd sort of like if it
was all worth it, you know. Now, he's gonna want
to play, just like Joe Burrow is gonna want to play.
All these guys want to play. They are football players
and know what they do, They play football. So he's
gonna want to get out there and it'll be interesting
to see, you know, kind of what the team does
(06:22):
do they you know, protect him from himself and if
he's fully cleared, you know, shouldn't he be able to say, like,
I want to play. So I think there's some big
decisions coming. My general sense was that, you know, the
Broncos game would maybe be a game too early, but
(06:44):
no one has ruled it out either, so you know,
we'll we'll see, and I think more information coming later
in the week because the plan was to evaluate Jayden
throughout the buy and that's kind of where they're at now.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
The last one I have for you, Michael Pennix junior
going on I are kind of another tough injury for
him over the course of his young career. The Falcons
are three and seven, and I obviously going to go
to Kirk Cousins. Now, what do you think that this
does for maybe their future plans at quarterback, assuming that
this season continues down the trajectory that they missed the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Well, I would say this, like there's some ACL damage
for Michael Pennix, and so if he ends up having
ACL reconstruction is probably right up against the start of
the year next year, at the very least, they're going
to have to bring in some protection for him, a
bridge starter, a really good backup, you know, someone like
(07:37):
Kirk cousins, but hard to imagine it is Kirk counsin hawss.
He decides to take a very very very low deal,
you know, or less he you know, maybe plays lights
out the next month and everything has to be reconsidered,
so you know, they'll need sort of a backup plan.
But if you're asking, do I think that they've stopped
thinking Michael Penicks as a franchise quarterback? I don't. I
(07:58):
think the people who are there still invested in him,
people who made the pick.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I think there's a lot to like.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
He's just, you know, a quarterback without a ton of
NFL experience, who you know, unfortunate. It has done some things,
It made some throws, it makes at various times it
makes you think that he's the guy. But then at
other times they're kind of like, all right, is he
so still plenty of answers to come in Atlanta?
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, no doubt about it. Ian always appreciated me. Able
to check in me next week.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Okay, thanks guys, Thank Eric.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Tell you Ian Rockaport, our NFL Network insider. We'll get
that up a Kwacolorado dot com.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
The whole Broncos season has been interesting because you know,
I don't know how like aesthetically pleasing it's been, you know,
and generally when you have teams that have great defenses
and the offenses just sort of make plays when it matters,
like sometimes it doesn't quote unquote look great, which I
think is probably why Broncos fans are feeling like maybe
people don't fully appreciate them. But that's okay, because the
(08:56):
winds still count. They're still you know, in commanding possess
first place in the division. They still beat the Chiefs
and I think, you know, are the biggest threat to
you know, basically taking away Kansas City stranglehold on the
AFC West really pretty fascinating, honestly for you're.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Like, you know, it's a bit of not a parade
because you don't say a parade for a regular season game,
but it's a big win. It's a massive win considering
the stakes and considering the vibes. We talked about it
last week, the vibes coming off the Raiders game. How
are they going to respond? They play up and they
played down to their competition. They absolutely played up to
the Chiefs and they won that game. And they won
(09:34):
that game in a lot of ways. How the Chiefs
tend to win games, which is the offense gets the
ball last and they don't give it back to the
opposing posing team. Yeah, I mean the vibes, thank you. Yeah,
I said that, But that's that's what it was. So
here an Ian there, and I always like getting his
sense of what other people around the league are saying
about the Broncos. There's still a little bit of a tepid,
(09:57):
as you said, tepid feel about this team.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
That's why I asked him that question. And I did
feel like he was a little lukewarm on them. Maybe
we believe in him here in Denver and the rest
of the NFL country. Man, they've seen enough bad things
from the Broncos because Broncos have been on national TV
quite a bit. I was driving in this morning and
I listened to the ESPN National Show driving and I
(10:23):
couldn't wait to hear how they would lead off the
show at five o'clock in the morning as they wrap
they do their weekend wrap up. Never even mentioned the
Broncos when I was driving in, Like whoa. And I
did take note of that, like maybe to the rest
of the country, not that big of a deal. Here
in Broncos Country. This is the biggest win this team
has had in ten years. Significant and you beat Patrick Mahomes, yes,
(10:46):
and the Chiefs in a game that really mattered.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
So I don't know.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
I guess the rest of the league is they want
to see more. I think that's what they want to see,
is more.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I mean the Broncos with Bone as their quarterback, our
one blocked field goal away from Nicks, owning Mahomes, beating
him head to head twice, and beating the Chiefs three
times again. I'm not gonna cat that last one at
the end of the last year because they played their backups.
But the point of it is, is like your one
flukey blocked field goal, a thirty five yarder by the
way away from sweeping and beating soundly those teams. So yeah,
(11:25):
I guess I kind of see it. There's a little
bit of a show me. Maybe it's because the league
has become high level quarterback league. Like everybody that is,
anybody that believes in whatever team it is, they got
to have one of those guys like Josh Allen. He's
had some inconsistent moments this year, but he had a
six touchdown day yesterday because he's that guy. And we
(11:48):
know Patrick Mahomes can be that guy. Lamar Jackson can
be that guy. We were just asking Ian about the
AFC picture, the playoff picture, and you've got Daniel Jones,
You've got Drake May, You've got Bon Knicks, and I
guess Aaron Rodgers there at the top for the top four, right.
I mean though, those are kind of the top four
quarterbacks in the standings right now. And Aaron Rodgers is hurt,
(12:11):
so we'll see what ends up happening there in the
AFC North. But that's a weird deal, right, And so
I can see why people are like, I don't know,
I don't know about the top of the AFC because
most of the chatter I was listening to is like, hey,
if the Bills will be in it, they'll be a
wildcard team the Chiefs if they make it, and nobody's
gonna want to play the Chiefs. Like that is what
the discussion today has been, is if the Chiefs can
(12:33):
make it in, nobody's gonna want to play them. Nobody's
gonna want to play Lamar, nobody's gonna want to play
Josh Allen. Because everybody views it as it's if you
either have that quarterback or you don't. And until you
prove you're one of those quarterbacks, they don't believe in you.
Speaker 6 (12:44):
Yeah, those guys are much more accomplished than they've been
around a whole lot longer. Bon Knicks in the middle
of his second year and growing still, and he will
get better. We said going into this game against the Chiefs,
you're going to see a much better version of bon Nicks.
We both thought of that, all of us, you, me
and Dave last week thought that the Broncos offense would
(13:05):
show up in the game. And they did. And that's
with all the injuries, that's without JK. Dobbins. There's two
things that concern me move it forward. Number One, all
the penalties. Broncos need to clean those up, and they're
still winning despite being the most penalized team in the league.
Number Two is can they run the ball when it
(13:25):
really matters?
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Yesterday?
Speaker 6 (13:28):
I keep saying last night because it was dark when
the game ended, But yesterday they they're just not consistent
running the ball, and I don't know if they can
get any better with the running backs that they have.
They have the line. We know that JK. Dobbins was
running the ball very effectively. But with these three running backs,
(13:49):
can they do the job when it really matters? And
I'm talking in the playoffs? That remains to be seen now, right.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Jake Plumber, Okay, let's talk about the running game when
we come back. I definitely want to get into that
a little bit more, because you're right, that is a
big factor of not only what they've been doing, but
what they need to be doing going forward. By the way,
this Wednesday, let's help those in need with Ko's Holiday
Food Drive benefiting Food Bank of the Rockies. Join Kowa
nine to nine at King Supers on Colorado and Yale.
Donate Turkey's food or cash through a qte R code
(14:21):
presented by Redbird Farms Colorado Buick GMZ Dealers in KOA.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Cuts it back off left guard and they try to
get a good push and they continue to push and
a third of the goal line and it is a
differ touchdown with a penalty flag throne off sides Kansas City.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
That score counts.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
I'll tell you what, Julia McLoughlin's showing you some toughness,
you know.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
I just want to give it everything I got for
my team. Oh whenever my name is Gauls, So I'm
grateful for getting an opportunity to play yesterday and he
got a touchdown, which was great. And that postgame interview
with Susie is up on our website Kwaclorado dot com
with all of our postgame interviews, and we'll hear from
Bo Nicks with voice the Broncos Dave Logan a little
bit after five point thirty tonight. But let's talk a
(15:05):
little b about the running game, because you said it
a moment ago, Rick that it obviously wasn't up to
the standard of what we've seen this season, but I
don't think anybody expected it to be. With JK. Dobbins
going on IR and likely out for the season, though
they did open the possibility off the Broncos make the
Super Bowl, he can be available for that, but let's
just for not for now. You know, I think the
(15:26):
Broncos have an argument for that. Let's just for now
say JK. Dobbins is not available for the rest of
the season. So where do you go from here?
Speaker 4 (15:34):
Now?
Speaker 1 (15:35):
You can could go grab somebody right there andreck estimate
out there or who had been bring up for a
Bronco that I'm space's name right now? Oh yeah, Latavious
Murray as another name.
Speaker 5 (15:51):
I heard that.
Speaker 6 (15:53):
I don't know, man, I'd rather get somebody off a
practice squad.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
He's not even in the league anymore.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
No, he's retired.
Speaker 6 (15:59):
Yes, so I would look at somebody's practice squad. Jeff Wilson,
the guy played quite a bit of football for the
forty nine ers. I thought he was a decent back
for them. He's a guy that you could go get.
Who's the other one you mentioned? I mentioned Rick Estimate.
(16:19):
I don't I don't know if he'd be a game changer.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Well, you know, I don't have a game changer, and
I don't think you're going to find one just hanging
around because most of these body for some short yardage situations.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Okay, I'd be okay with that. You got nothing to
lose by bringing him back, and he knows the system.
That's actually a pretty solid choice. He's not a guy
who's going to be, you know, your primary ball carrier.
And the question is who is going to be your
primary ball carrier. I thought it was going to be R. J. Harvey,
and he did take most of the snaps running the ball.
(16:52):
He's still just not a proven commodity running the ball.
Yet he shows flashes. He looks like a guy who
could break one at any time, but he gets stopped.
He seems to be making kind of poor decisions as
a running back, like picking the wrong lane at times,
and you know, get stopped.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
For a yard or two yard gain. It's really too bad.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
JK.
Speaker 6 (17:15):
Dobbins went down, and when I heard Ian Rappaport talk
about Willie could be back in February, I never even
thought about that. That's so far down the road. I
did see Lane Johnson hit a list Frank and they're
saying that he's not gonna have surgery, So I'm sure
they explored that option with Dobbins. Could he get by
(17:35):
not having surgery bring him back in six weeks. Maybe
it's really too bad, man, because they really had it
going and you're gonna need to run the ball in
the playoffs. There's all these games in the playoffs. They
are tight games like we've been playing. So this team
is built to win those kind of games, but you
need to be able to run the ball.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
Maybe RJ.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
Harvey will emerge as a guy you can count on,
at least to a point. I don't think you're any
give him twenty carries a game. Maybe give him fifteen
if he could, if he could even run for sixty
five yards, I think it would help you out well.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
And I'm I'm inclined to continue to invest there. I
agree that the returns of yesterday's game, I mean, the
numbers speak to themselves. Eleven carries for thirty yards every
two point seven, right, it a long of seven, right. JK.
Dobbins was significantly more productive for the team, and he
(18:28):
would have been more productive if he was out there yesterday.
All that being said, I'll start with the positives. Okay,
Julia McLoughlin's got fresh legs. That was very clear, right.
He had a couple of nice burst moments. It looked
like he could. He only got eight carries in the
eight touches I think total rate snaps. Sorry, he got
six carries, he got six eight total snaps. He had
(18:51):
one catch for negative five yards, which, by the way,
was so obnoxious. The quick whistle on Jill McLoughlin. Oh yeah, oh,
I was so frustrated by it and watching it back
today like that, that moment and then the foul against
Riley Moss. I mean, I like one of the other pi's,
(19:13):
but the illegal contact that negated John Ay Barns pick six,
Like those two MOMENTSNT for me specifically, watching back, I
was even more angry the second watch.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Very inconsistent in the way they called that game. I
know we have a bias here, we're the hometown broadcast crew,
but I mean, honestly, I can I can say that
this that that was inconsistent. They didn't call it the
same way against the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (19:42):
They were letting obvious call obvious holds when you can
see a hold from the press box and they don't
call it, And we saw at least two of those
in that game yesterday. It does feel like the league,
the reps have it out for the Broncos. I don't
think they officially do, but there does seem to be
(20:05):
a case where they're trying to help the Chiefs home.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Are this right?
Speaker 6 (20:10):
I mean right, Okay, go ahead and say it, Dave,
But it does feel like when you've got a dynasty
like the Chiefs, that they they're going to give them
the benefit of the doubt.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
When you have a team.
Speaker 6 (20:21):
Like the Broncos that are really coming on pretty much
out of nowhere, where nobody thought they would be. They're
not going to get the benefit of the doubt. And
that's happening with Riley Moss too. On some of these
PI calls. That's exactly what's happening. Some are obvious, but
some are really really close. I almost said a bad word.
Some are really really close calls that could go either way.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
So for me, for the running back, the positives are
Julian McLoughlin looks like his pre fresh legs.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
So I liked Juliel.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I think you you could roll him out a little
bit more. I still think they need a bigger back,
but I'm continue to invest in RJ. Harvey and the
biggest reason why is what he was able to do
in college. And then you heard Sean Payton earlier this
week say we drafted you to be a runner, and
he was a very dynamic running back. In fact, he
was underutilized as a pass catcher at UCF. He was
(21:09):
great running the ball there. The only concern I really
had was more of the longevity of how many yards
he already had right Trent on the tires kind of conversation.
But we've seen guys like Jonathan Taylor come into the
league and that was a big discussion about him, and
he's been phenomenal, so I'm inclined to believe that he
still has something there. It just needs to continue to
be developed, which means he needs reps and he needs time,
(21:31):
and he needs to gain confidence. And you're only going
to do that if you keep giving him those opportunities.
If you start to dial it back, then I think
you risk some of the development that you've already given.
Speaker 6 (21:43):
That's an excellent, excellent take, and what the cushion the
Broncos have now at nine to two, you can afford
to give him a little bit of time. You know,
they have two weeks off here to get ready for
the next game. You get maybe a couple of games
after that where you can maybe get him comfortable and
get him going. I think that's an excellent way to
look at that. Regarding Jaliel, I'd like Jaliel a lot.
(22:06):
He's made plays in the past. He's the hardest working
guy on the team. Everybody will tell you that, and
you know what, for a little guy, he doesn't mind
busting runs right right up the middle. R. J. Harvey
is a different kind of runner. Even though he's bigger
than Jaliel. He seems to hesitate a lot when they're
(22:28):
trying to run inside with him, like he's not sure
what he should. Sometimes he just kind of stutter steps
around a little bit. Then he makes that every now
and then you'll see him make a really quick cut
and find a little laid and that's what he's really
really good at. But you're right, I think you nailed it.
I don't think he has the confidence yet. He's not
quite sure what to do with the ball when he
gets it.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
This is only the second time this season he's at
double disja carries. The second I mean eleven games in
the season and the only other one he had was
in basically garbage time against Dallas where they were giving
him some opportunities to get some extra run. But otherwise
he hasn't had a lot of time. He has all
been single digit carried games until yesterday. He hasn't had
(23:10):
high leverage. You're our guy, and and once again he
he was productive. Right. He didn't have a lot of
in he tackled tackles for loss. He had a couple
of no gainers in there, but he was he was
constantly looking for it and nothing else. I'll give him.
This is his development and timing and rhythm with bon
(23:31):
Nicks in the passing game has really come along nicely.
There's a couple of moments where Kansas City was bringing
extra pressure and he turned his head right away. You
know the sack that boon Nicks took in the red
zone on the very first drive on the third down,
the third goal that they were they were there and
he took a sack from Chris Jones. I believe that
play was designed for RJ. Harvey. It just so happened
(23:54):
that they had a good coverage for what the Broncos
were trying to do. But I believe that was designed
to go to r J. Harvey. He just had a
coverage there in a flat for him. But otherwise, I
really like the chemistry that they've built there in the
passing game, in the quick passing game. So I'm inclined
to want to keep him on the field as much
as possible because you know you have that available. And
the other side of that is you're not tipping your hand.
(24:16):
So many times with Julen McLoughlin in the last couple
of years, it felt like every time he was in, well,
he's not in for pass pro he's in to hand
the ball off to him. So I feel like you
got you got a lot more with r. J. Harvey,
and there's a reason why you draft him the second round.
So even if you bring in an Adric Estimatey or
Latavious Murray or some other bigger back, because you want
(24:36):
to have somebody for short yardage, which maybe you just
give it to Adam Prentiss or Nate Adkins or somebody
like that, I'd say I want to continue to invest
in r. J. Harvey because if he has some kind
of second half explosion like we're seeing with Trayvon Henderson,
we're seeing with some of these other rookie running backs,
well then I want to be there for it. And
(24:57):
I think that this team can go to another level
if he ends up being what they think he can be.
Speaker 5 (25:02):
Yeah, the potential's all there. You can see it.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
And he's had two long runs on the season, one
forty one fifty yard, but outside of those, it's been
a bunch of three yard carries.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
This is a guy like check this out of UCF
right two hundred three and two carries last year five
hundred and seventy seven yards, averaging six point eight per carry,
twenty two rushing touchdowns year before, two hundred and twenty
six carries, one thousand, four hundred and sixteen yards, averaging
six point three per carry, sixteen rushing touchdowns, thirty eight
rushing touchdowns over the last two years, and basically three
(25:34):
thousand rushing yards. And again, he was underutilized in the
passing game, only twenty carry or twenty catches and nineteen
catches in the previous two years before that. So he's
got he's got it, like he has that ability. It's
not like you brought in a change of pace back
and now you're trying to teach him how to run.
He knows how to run. You just got to give
(25:54):
him those chances.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
You want to see him throwing the ball anymore?
Speaker 6 (25:58):
After what we saw yesterday, please got Yeah that was
that was scary. Yeah that that could have gone really
really bad. Yeah, and he was a quarterback a long
time ago.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
Well, high school, We're going to see it.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
It's gonna happen. Like you know, Sean, Sean's been setting
this thing up. He's frozed.
Speaker 6 (26:18):
I wouldn't have him throw the ball across the field.
What I would do with him is pitch it out
to him and then throw it downfield, not across.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
The field or a lot of them a wildcat, you know, like, hey,
have him take the direct sall have him take the
direct snap and then make him look like he's getting
ready to run it and then he can throw.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
Yeah, that play. I don't think anybody wants to see that. Again.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Good heads up by both though.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
As far as a big running back at the goal line,
how about this. They may have a secret weapon on
the team already.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Andre Tillman, Wow, think about that going outside the box here.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
I like it.
Speaker 6 (26:54):
Yes, he's got two interceptions, both of them long returns
where he look very comfortable with the ball in his hands.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
It was shocking to watch.
Speaker 6 (27:04):
He was running over people, he was making cuts, he
was he was switching the ball into the right hand
depending on which direction he was going. Looked like this
guy's played running back before and he's a big dude.
I would think after seeing that, Sean Payton's got to
be trying to scheme up some goal line plays with him.
Speaker 5 (27:23):
Now.
Speaker 6 (27:23):
Obviously, when you put him in the game, everybody knows
what's going to happen, but they still might now be
able to stop it just like the toushbush. They know
you're going to do the toushbush, they can't stop it.
This guy, he could be the new refrigerator.
Speaker 5 (27:36):
Perry.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
I like where your head's at. But I think I
would probably lean him more as a as a fullback,
first as a lead blocker and then.
Speaker 8 (27:47):
Either one yeah to him sometimes and then they're setting
up the possibility that he could ever be like short
yardage slash goal line kind of thing where you hand
him the ball instead of handing it to the running back.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
I could be into that. I mean, he certainly seems
very excited about He leads the team in interceptions, so
that is something that I mean, I don't know, he's fun.
He's it's a fun group, right And you and I've
been talking about this now for quite some time. And
I saw Will Lutz tweeting about this that you know
(28:20):
he loves this team. Wanted let me see what he said.
He was talking about our guy. Ryan Coniesberg pointed out
that Sean Payton has already celebrating that Will LUTs was
going to make the field goal before he actually made it.
And then uh, he said, they looked right at Will
Lutson and already put up his hands like, hey, you
already made it kind of thing, and Will Will Lutts said, yeah,
right at me, and I did it right back. Love
(28:40):
everything about this team nice. There is something about the vibe,
right and I don't play the drop, but there is
something about that group that is really bought in, don't Yeah,
I mean the vibes God, that is bought into the
vision of what they are. And then that's the reason
why I've had so many fourth quarter comebacks. Why Bo
(29:02):
Nicks specifically over the last two years has more comebacks
than any quarterback over a two year span in the
history of the game.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
It's pretty amazing.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
Yeah, what that stat alone, think about that, that's incredible
in the history of the National Football League in the
two years. Yep, Yeah, that's quite the stat. Bo Nicks's
clutch and he has been since day one. He's been
that guy, and that's that's a special attribute to have
as an athlete. Not everybody has that, And I don't
(29:32):
know if that's something you're born with. When I look
at bow Nicks, I look at him as he was
the son of a coach, right, His dad coached him
up from the time he was a little boy all
the way through his high school and college years. And
I think that's part of it. Bo just gets it.
He just knows the game. And BO is at its
(29:55):
best when the chips are down and when you need
to make a play. And there's just some people like that.
Their blood pressure goes down, it doesn't go up. They
relax when they're in that position. Man, it's great to
have that guy as your quarterback. John Elway was the same.
John Elway would play some pretty bad football for three quarters,
(30:16):
three and a half quarters in a close game. You know,
John always going to win it for you. Bon Knicks
has become that guy.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
I think that's the beauty of the game.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
The beauty of the game is the beauty of the game.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Well, and I don't know if we don't. I think
there's too many expletives. But Adam Troutman was going off
in the locker room last night about some of the
hate that bon Knicks is getting, so they have his
back and that that has been certainly an important part
of this process because he's come under a lot of
fire and some of it deserve it, right, And part
(30:49):
of that is because Sean Payton built him up to
what should be maybe a very lofty level. Simultaneously, people
are I think sometimes the other shoot to drop on
some of these guys. I'll say this, when it comes
to like the development of the offense and the realization
of what they are and what they could be, you
(31:11):
certainly hope they do eventually become that team, right, Like
you see the flashes of it and you say, well,
if they just put this together, and he's one of
the best fourth quarter comebacks in the league right now.
But because he's not doing all of that stuff all
the time, he doesn't get to be in the conversation
of MVP caliber core quarterbacks as they put it that
graphic every single day of like these are the guys,
(31:32):
the betting favorites, and it's like you're leading the AFC
and you're not even in the conversation. Well, you know why,
because you only do it in one quarter. You need
to do it more consistently, and you need to do
it pretty much every single day, every single day. But
I'll take where they're at now, knowing that they haven't
played their best football yet, that they are still hungry
and pushing for their best football, and that keeps them grounded.
(31:56):
You know, you were talking about it a little bit
earlier about you know, you didn't maybe I was actually
talking about with the temper. But it's just like this,
like they're not getting buttered up by anybody. Even we
had ian rapport order. He's not buttering up the Broncos.
He's like, yeah, it's they're an interesting team. You know,
they're nine and two, but they're kind of an interesting team.
That's that's the mindset. So I'm I'm great with it.
(32:18):
I am more than great with it because keep doubting,
keep telling these guys that they're not playing good enough
because it's working.
Speaker 6 (32:27):
I'd like you, man, I'd rather be under the radar
and then exceed expectations then beyond the radar. I didn't
really care for Sean Payton saying that preseason. I thought
it put a target on their back. I'm sure he
said it now looking back at nine to two. He
said it that let the team know, hey, man, be
confident because you guys have super Bowl caliber talent. I okay,
(32:50):
now I get that, but yeah, I'm the same. I
want to be under the radar and let's keep it
that way. Let's keep it that way down the stretch
and when you think they're nine and two and they
haven't played their best football yet and that's to come.
Their best best football is ahead of them. And another
thing Sean Payton says that I love. He said, we're
going to play in bigger games. And he's been saying
that all along. And when you talk like that, man,
(33:14):
these young guys, man, they're heavily influenced by that type
of talk, and they're they're bought in and they're believing.
They're beolieving nice if you want to put it that way.
And Bo's going to get better. I'm confident Bo will
continue to get better. He's that kind of guy. He's
a hard working dude and he takes it very seriously.
(33:37):
And there's been some quarterbacks in the league that were
first round draft picks that didn't I won't name any names.
They just thought they could show up. But he's not
that guy. He's going to get better. The only concern,
once again, the running running back situation. Can you run
the ball when it really matters? We didn't see that yesterday.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
On the text line five six six nine zero, you're
reading my mind about Tillman. I was just going to
text it, but I was driving. I just feel like
you continue to develop the guys you have if you
want to get clever or cute. I mean, I guess
there's an argument for it. I like the short yardage idea.
I like him more as a lead blocker than necessarily
handling the ball.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
You can do both.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
We'll see. Well let's see here. Well, then you're also
doing this half back pass in the red zone. You
almost took away at least three points and had a
ten point swing. No that I mean that was I
mean it just sort of hung up there. Good for
both to play defense. I've been waiting to see Harvey
toss a half back pass. I hope I have to
(34:37):
wait a long time to see it again.
Speaker 5 (34:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (34:41):
Yeah, I think Cortland Sutton's a better passer than him,
based on what I saw from that throw yesterday. Court
can throw the ball all right, and he has he's
got a touchdown pass, and Harvey could do that. That
just wasn't the play to try that across the field.
Speaker 5 (34:57):
Too many trick plays.
Speaker 6 (34:58):
Now, this is two games in a row where they've
called up trick plays in really clutch situations that didn't work.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Not when you're already moving the ball, right. I think
one was like a second and one or third and one,
and you're calling and that was the double pass. Right,
you're like third and one. You've been running the ball,
you've been gaining yardage, and then you're like third and one,
let's go ahead and throw it deep, and you're just
like okay. And then and then Corlan got sacked in
the process. Right, it's double pass with Courland sudden. Then
(35:28):
he got sacked and lost five yards and now you're
at a field goal range.
Speaker 6 (35:31):
Yeah what Yeah, that's two games in a row that
I don't think we'll see that r J.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
Harvey play again this year. I really don't.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
I don't think so either. All right, marbit tacks five six, six,
nine zero. We're gonna hear with from Botnix coming up
here in just a minute.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com