Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Five six six nine zeros or Kawae Commas.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Brade'll text line, I'm very excited to be here with
you along with Grant Smith, and we're gonna have Shelby
Harris joining us here at four point thirty. Get his
thoughts on the game against the Steelers. I can't wait
to ask him about the block he had there at
the line, being hugged while the offensive len see if
his wife was maybe a little jealous of how how
(00:22):
much he was being hugged. And then Miles Garrett coming
up at this last game against the Cincinnati Bengalsay, not
getting it. Nope, sorry, I didn't know. If we're still
I'm at Miles Garrett's not getting Oh that's see, I'm listen.
I'm kind of here for that. I'm kind of here
(00:42):
for me. He's gonna wins if Defensive Player of the
Year anyways, doesn't need the sack record. The Cincinnati Bengals
are not going to be bribed to give.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Him the sack record.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Nick Ferguson, Although theoretically I'm on the fence whether I'll
ask Shelby about.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
It or not.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Hey, if you guys thought about bribing the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
A lot of mercy.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
All there ridiculous things, and Nick says a lot like
Ben says a lot of ridiculous things, but Nick always
takes it to another level. But him making a someone
coaching argument yesterday, I think that the Browns, more specifically
Miles Garrett should bribe the Bengals offensive line to get
(01:29):
that sack.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Oh boy, when I said that, more hair just popped
up on my chest.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
All right, five six, six nine zero. You guys been
great this first hour flew by.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
We asked about.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Expectations, how much they've changed for the Broncos now that
they are in position to get the one seed on
Sunday with a win over the Chargers, who are sitting
at least their quarterback and more than likely a lot
of players will get more information as the week moves on.
I do want to talk about Nicole Yoakush here for
a moment, though, because we had a bit of a scare,
and I say bit that that really doesn't describe what
(02:03):
I think a lot of Nuggets fans felt last night
when you saw him go down and then limp off.
The court obviously ruled out relatively quickly after that in
the loss of the Miami heat. The loss is completely
his secondary doesn't even be described. The chasm between the
feelings of what Nuggets fans felt about that game and
more specifically, what was going to happen with Nikola Jokic.
(02:26):
But we did get relatively good news this morning, as
is reported by the Nuggets, that he was diagnosed with
a hyper extension of his left knee. We go get
Doc sneider On here at some point to talk to
him about this, but he was diagnosed with a hyper
extension in his left knee, is gonna miss at least
four weeks. And I think the at least isn't getting
(02:48):
enough credit here because it is good news, certainly good news,
and he was an MVP front runner from a betting
standpoint going into that game last night. Now a lot
of people are focusing in on the sixty five game
mark that he would have to clear at this point
if he comes back February first, it's around sixty three
(03:11):
sixty four, so it's going to be really close. My
wonder about this, not expectation, but my wonder about this
is if they'll just keep him out through the All
Star break, because there's only six more games at the
beginning of February before the All Star break, So you got.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Eighteen games in January, you got.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Six more, and then you can give him all of
that time off and then just make your run after that.
Now I don't want that, I'm not hoping for that.
It just would logically track if it's close at all.
And that's why when the report came out from Shanshrania
that it was at least four weeks, people were like, oh, celebration,
(03:52):
we'll get him back at the beginning of February.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Well, maybe you will.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
That would be outstanding, but there is nothing that is
going to happen this year as far as belief that
you can win a championship without Nicola Jokich. In fact,
I'm I'm gonna be wildly interested to see what David
Adaman is gonna do over this next month without him.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Everything about this team.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And you guys know this, I don't have to tell
you it's designed about Nicola Jokic, and as it should be,
everything the ball, everything it goes through Nicola Jokic. So
now do you redesign on the fly your entire office
right and right now you have only one starter, like
one week one starter in Jamal Murray. That's the only
(04:38):
guy that's healthy, and even he was kind of hobbling
around last night. So Jamal Murray is the last man
standing here, and you're eventually gonna get back Aaron Gordon
here relatively soon. You're gonna get back Christian Brown here
relatively soon. I did see on a podcast that Cam
Johnson said that he's doing better, so maybe that is
(04:59):
going to happen a little sooner. Seeing to get back
a few bodies here soon, but none of them are
in Nakoliokic.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So now it's about Treddy Water.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
It's trying to find wins where you can get them,
keep yourself in the playoff mix. It's like triage, but
it's kind of like that where you just say this
is what we're this is what we're about. We're gonna
try to test our skill. I hope they don't go
into Jamal Murray needs to play forty five minutes a night,
because that's not a bad that's not a good idea either.
(05:26):
He's gonna have to carry the load from a leadership
standpoint and from a scoring standpoint, certainly, but you're gonna
have to keep as minutes as close to normal as
you can get.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Off to marsonellows he's on fire.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
I love Chris Marlow. Are we gonna see more Holmes?
I would hope, So I hope you would get the
call up. There's there's a few things. I mean, there's
a few things you could do, but nothing compared to
nakoli Okic and what he does as far as the
challenges he presents for opponents on a night in, night
out basis.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And it's all facets. So I don't have to tell
you guys that it's all facets.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
So that's where David Adelman in his first full year
here now coaching the Nuggets, this is a different kind
of test. And I don't think I'm saying in a
test like if he doesn't pass, as in they don't
have more wins than losses in January, I'm suddenly going
to think different with him. No, it's just an understanding
(06:24):
that you are viewed as one of the best teams
in the NBA with the Kohli Jokic, but without him,
what are you and how creative can you be from
a coaching standpoint to keep yourself tethered to the playoffs
in this very difficult West that we've talked about a
lot that's gonna be fascinating to watch.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
But again, you can get some guys back hopefully that's
going to help a little bit.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
But overall good news from the Kohli Jokic. I think
you put the whole MVP conversation on the back burner.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I think we're beyond that now.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Like I said, from a triage standpoint, now it's just
about when do you get him back. If you can
get him back before the All Star break, gravy, if not,
give him through the All Star break, which is just
six more games, it's twenty four total.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
It's a lot. It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
But then you just gear up to make a real
run here of the postseason after the All Star break.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
But from now, like the next couple days, there's gonna
be a lot of competer probably.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I mean, what else are you supposed to do? Right,
that's a great drop grant. What else are you supposed
to do?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
And you can't. You're not gonna run around out there.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
You gettent hyper extended knee, just you know, a few curls.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
That's what they want to drinking the beer? Yeah, you
guys get it.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I think that it ultimately benefited this team to have
that belief pumped into the building. But again, you know,
we after the two losses, remember a lot of the
discussion around town was, oh, boy, Sean set this team
up for failure. You got these guys all fired up
thinking they were a super Bowl team, and now they're
one two. Hey, fast forward to now when you're like, wow,
(08:03):
you're thirteen and three with an opportunity to win the
first seat here in the AFC. A couple of texts here,
this one we're responding to the Nicole Jokish conversation we
just had. It's like having sixteen starters out and one
of them is your star quarterback. Gonna be tough to
stay afloat, but we were gonna have to find a way.
I mean that's exactly I mean, as comparable, I don't
(08:23):
almost sixteen starters, but I think it's a lot, right,
certainly star quarterback. If you would make a comp to
what Nicole Yokich means for the Nuggets on top of
all the other injuries they're dealing with, Yeah, it does
feel like you're, well, you're behind the eight ball, if
you will, right, And so again, I don't know, I
don't want to put two lofty of expectations here on
(08:45):
David Adaman in his first year. But at the same time,
this is why we say coaching matters. It's a little
different in the NBA than the NFL. But if this
is what you're gonna have to do, you're gonna to
find a way to get creative and see what that
See what that looks like over the core of a month,
maybe month and a half. Text line for the expectations
of the Broncos. Expectations are still mild. It's funny because
(09:08):
most of the texts we got in the last hour
or so were Super Bowl bound, but this one, expectations
are still mild. I think the Broncos are ahead of schedule,
but tough to get to thirteen wins with a chance
to run the table in your backyard, need to take
advantage of it. Super Bowl Oh okay, I should have
gotten to the end of it. So expectations are mild,
but acknowledging. Hey, we have an opportunity here. No clue
(09:35):
what your last show well of the year will be,
but think you grant Rick Susie would be a great
ending perfect chemistry. Well that's very kind it'll be me
and Vent all Bright tomorrow for the last show of
the year, Wet Blanket all Bright yeap.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
I don't see where the Wet Blanket is heading into
twenty twenty six. Maybe he is in a remarkably good boot.
I saw him yesterday when he was filled for Andy.
He's in a pretty good mood, of course. I think
when he gets a chance to talk politics and challenge
people this is kind of a bit thing, then he's
(10:13):
always in a good mood. Take time for whatever you
want it to be. But yeah, he'll be with you
tomorrow for three hours. Sax Siegers will be hanging out
with us for a little bit as well, and we'll
try to bring in the new year with you, and
then we have a Broncos country tonight Tomorrow night as well.
A couple more texts here. I would love to see
Max Crosby in the Orange Blue prayers for Joker.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
We're gonna miss him.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Broncos have to play heads up football. Max Crosby would
be interesting. But for whatever reason, the Raiders are hanging
on to him. And it's not to say I don't
understand he's a great player, it's just knowing that you're
not a player or two away. But teams will convince
themselves sometimes we get the right coach, we get the
right quarterback, and you see every single year the right
(11:00):
combination can make the difference.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
So one of the beauties of the NFL.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
But there's also a bit of an illusion there for
teams that are more than that away. I think it's remarkable,
you know, watching the Falcons last night and how much
talent they have. They've had their share of injuries. Certainly
the quarterback right Michael Pennocks wasn't consistent. We talked about
inconsistency with bot Nicks. It's another level with Michael PENNOCKX.
But you had injury there. Quarterback Drake London missed some time.
(11:30):
But between Jon Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Darnell Mooney,
that is a and they have a good offensive line too,
that's a very good team. I don't know what they're
gonna do with head coach. I don't know if they're
going to clean house with the coach and the GM.
They don't have a first round pick this year, but
(11:52):
they look like a team that could go to total
with anybody. Last night, now it helps when Matt Stafford
is having one of those games where he's just giving
the ball away and he was, they still had a chance, obviously,
if Puka Nakua can make that unbelievable catch on the sideline.
There's still people today, by the way, arguing on Twitter
that he did make the catch, as if the optical
(12:13):
illusion of the ball coming out of his hand didn't happen.
I'm like, wait, how are you still making that argument?
But really interesting game. Quickly before we get to Shelby Harris.
I'd asked Nick last night if Matt Stafford has a
big game or what would a big game for Matt
Stafford do for the MVP conversation. Nick said, it's already done.
(12:34):
Matt Stafford is your MVP. I said, Drake May. Drake
May is still in this thing. Not that I have
a rooting interest. I'm just I think we talked about
the MVP slow and behold. After Matt Stafford through three
interceptions last night, Drake May is now the betting favorite
to be MVP. I'm not surprised by it at all,
and I imagine that'll probably stay status quo in this
(12:57):
final week of the regular season and Drake May is
gonna win it.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
That's my expectation.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Now we'll see what Shelby Harris thinks when we come
back right here on ka WA. Shelby har is joining
us now on the ka Commasparate Health hotline. Shall be
my friend, good to chat with you. What a wed
of the Steelers?
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Man?
Speaker 1 (13:13):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
I'm doing great, Always way better after a w How
are you doing?
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I'm doing great?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Man.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Although it's funny because we were having fun talking yesterday
about how you were being accosted, you were being hugged.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
You were being mugged.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Out there when you got that batted pass of the
line on a key moment late in the fourth quarter.
Your wife after the fact say, you know, hey, listen,
tell that guy that that he's a taken man.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
He's like, that's my man. Like that no, like nobody
gets nobody gets to hold mind man but me. No,
good baby, I got you. That was that was not
There was no consent on that hug.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
There's no consent on that hug. Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
You know we sometimes get into the whole well, there's
holding on every play and it can happen all the time.
What what are you missing when you missed that hole.
The fact that you were able to steal back that
pass was tremendous.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
You know, I think I'm just gonna think that they're
they were watching Miles hoping he got the record that place,
and that where their eyes were.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
It's got to be that. There is no other explanation.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
I mean, you can see both arms around on your back,
like what else, what else do you gotta do?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
A full bear hug, full bear hug?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
You know, all the cool. We got to win, and
that's all that matters.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
That's all that matters. That's right, scoreboard and then listen, man,
it's a big win. Steelers needed that game. Now, they
put themselves at risk playing the Baltimore Ravens this week
for a win and get in. But I wanted to
say with the Browns for a second here, because it
did seem man, it did seem like and Miles said
it too, that a lot of the Steelers game plan
(14:51):
was let's just not let Miles get the record.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Did you guys really feel that way?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Many said they were on the steel talking about like
you're not going to get the record on me. You're
worried about that, and you need this win to clinch
the ANFC North and now you will only focus on
Miles not getting a record, and I don't know if
it has anything And I don't know this has anything
to do with because they're TJ Watt a Steeler as
(15:19):
that record. Also, you know you're trying to make it
out on them, but now you risk not even making
the playoffs. Did you end up playing a Lamar Jackson
Raiven team that it seems to be ascending? So you
were so focused on Miles not getting this record, but
in reality, like and we just the proof is in
(15:40):
the pudding. There was no type of downfield passing game
that they even attempted. They even tried to develop that
downfield passing game. So it was just it was idea
is that they were more focused with Miles not getting
the record instead of trying to really just get that win.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
That's what it felt like to me too.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
So I wonder because I heard Miles after the game
say that, and I said that on Monday yesterday to
Nick and He's like, oh, no way, no, no way,
the Pittsburgh Steelers would focus that much attention on it.
I'm like, I don't know, man, you watch that game
to me, just watching from the TV copy, it certainly
felt like everything they were doing was trying to keep
him away from Aaron Rodgers, and to their detriment, they
(16:20):
scored six points in the game.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Yeah, so I guess the bagusly I noticed was, you know,
Aaron Rodgers already throws the ball really quick. Yep, Well
we all know that he already he already knows what
defense you what you're in, and he knows where he
wants to go with the ball and when he wants
to take shots. And just felt like this was even
faster and it didn't just feel like that the stats
kind of provement that the time to throw was the
(16:45):
prod I think the passes of the season by far,
and it just it just really didn't help their offense
that much, especially when they were already injured at receiver.
So it's not like they had their guys that could
break tackles in go for eighty. You know, they didn't
have a DK Yes, they didn't have a Kalvinos that game,
and so already you're you're already behind the eight ball
(17:06):
and you really didn't like, you know, you didn't do
your touf any.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Papers, No, doubt about it. Shelby Harris joining us.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
So we're debating something yesterday when it comes to Miles
Garrett trying to get the sack record coming up against
the Bengals. Now, I don't know if these are split
second decisions you guys can make, because a half sack
will get him tied for the record, but obviously a
full sack gets him the record. Do you guys on
the defensive line and pass rush is theyre just like, hey,
(17:33):
if it's close, you got to like keep your hands
like away from the quarterback because because maybe he's swinging
around on the other side.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Like I mean, it's it's all split second.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
It's not like you're intending to share the sack with
Miles Garrett.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
But you guys think about that at all.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Well, you know how hard it is to get sacked
in this right, and how hard it is to get
sacked with Miles Garrett next to him, Like, we don't
have the privilege to be like, you know, Miles gonna
have that way because he takes all of them already
in the first place. We gotta go get ours while
we can, and it's just splitting them with Miles. It's
splitting them with Miles. I know he understands too. It's
(18:11):
it's it's the way we always look at it, and
you're asking any team it's a racist quarterback. Sometimes it's
a tip. But we obviously want Miles to break that record,
but also we're all competitives at the same time. We
want to get there too. We're trying to get there
every place. It's just that he's a freak and he
gets sevent for us over twenty fives a year, So
it's just that's just a natural part about mouths. But
(18:33):
everybody's still trying to go out there, rested passes, all
these stats matter. We're all trying to make this season,
SAT wise look as good as possible. But obviously Miles
is fighting for history and we want them to get it.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Yeah, no, and I know that, and we talked quite a.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Few times and it Listen, it's not the season you
guys hoped for, but that would be a little bit
of a feather in the cap. He's gonna win Defensive
Player of the Year at this point. I mean, I
can't imagine anybody else even in the conversation. But still,
but still for you guys, I know, on the defensive
line for the defense. What he means to you, I
know it means a lot. And you got this Bengals
game coming up now, Nick Ferguson, and you won't be
(19:07):
surprised to hear this. Nick Ferguson tried to make the
argument that Miles should bribe the Bengals offensive line. I'm like,
he can get there on his own. He doesn't need
to bribe anybody. I couldn't believe a player would stoop
to that level and try to talk about integrity and
then say, well, but you know, fifty thousand dollars.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Maybe that'll get it done. I think that is just
absolute insanity. Do you agree, Well, try.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
To take that Michael's straight hand route. Yeah, I get it,
I get it. But I would say you that Miles
would never go for that. You know. I think all
twenty plus of his ads this year have been hard earned.
And I really can say I have not seen teams
change their game plan up every week like they have
(19:53):
the last couple of weeks to try to stop Miles.
I'm talking about like even against the Bears, against you know,
against the Bills, like you know, Josh Allen had his
lowest passing total for the season against us because no
one's trying to drop back and throw the ball. And
so no matter what happens like this next game, this
is still by far the most impressive season I've ever
(20:15):
seen in the NFL. I just really want people to
understand like that, like teams are really not running their
plays because of this man. They're not even going into
their playbook because of this man in the way he's rushing.
And I don't think anybody's ever had that type of
impact on a game before as a defensive end.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
I think you're absolutely right, Shelby Harris joining us here.
So I don't even know.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
How to ask you this question, So I'm just gonna
kind of ask it. You've played against the Ravens and
the Steelers now twice. I don't know who you think
wins this weekend. I mean not rooting interest, I don't
You're never going to root for a team in your division,
But who do you who do you think is going
to have the upper hand in that game?
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Who would win if it is a time really know
who would have the tiebreak?
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Oh boy, that's a great question. I would I think
the Steelers. The Steelers right now are in that spot
right so like as we sit here in this moment,
the Steelers are the four seeds, so my guess would
be they would win.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Oh yeah, the Steelers would The Steelers would have the
upbrands at the time.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah, because they're nine. Yeah, they're nine to seven, of
course they would. Yeah, so they'd be nine seven and
one and the Ravens would be eight eight and one.
So yeah, it doesn't there's not even a tiebreaker there.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
This is a yeah. So Steelers in that case.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
In that case, only because they're making me choose, and
because Denver's former d lion and Draymond Jones on the Ravens,
I have would I would say I want to see
Draymond in the playoffs. That's my dogs having a great
year after the trades and Tennessee really has been a
game changer for the Ravens on the edge and which
(21:52):
is a different look than what we saw him in Denver.
It was an inside player in Denver. It's very rare
we see a guy go from inside to outside and
be a But I would love to see Draymond have
a productive postseason run, go out there and get a
whole nother bag again.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
You know, I could get behind that.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I mean, we don't have necessarily a rooting interest out here,
although I will say conceptually easier path might be playing
the Steelers in the postseason and the Ravens. The Ravens
are kind of coming on defensively and with their run games,
so they could be a little more dangerous in the postseason.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
So I guess for Broncos fans, if there is a
rooting interest, it probably be the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
But I like, I like that argument, and I would say,
I mean, there's a reason the Ravens are favored, honestly
in this one.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Yeah, I just think there's Ravens team. They're really starting
to hit their stride, and if they win this one,
I'll be worried for anyone that has to play them
in the playoffs. They're getting they're starting to hit their
stride a little bit. They're starting to kind of do
in this without Lamar Jackson, you know what I mean,
Like the Snoop's going out there and really done a
great job of getting the offense round, like really just
(22:57):
being the game manager, and then there can really come
on strong. So I don't think, you know, you substitute
Tyler Huntley for Lamar Jackson you're terrified right now. So yeah,
if all the Broncos up the jet, Like, if I
had to play anything, I'm definitely choosing the Stealers over
the Ravens is because any time you play Lamar Jackson,
he can go all the way. He gon fix any
(23:18):
time he touches the ball, and that's the trait that
not many players have. So it's just the dangerous the
ability that he brings, especially in like a playoff game.
That's not something you want to have to deal with.
And it stifles the pass rush. So that's not the
team you If anyone else they want to see it
as a win. But the Ravens, I feel like, are
(23:39):
going to be that team one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Shelby Harris joining us.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
I don't know if you have a chance to watch
the Broncos Chiefs game on Christmas Night, but in that game,
the Broncos had four drives of fourteen plays or more.
What does that do for a defensive line? What a
team is just moving the ball like that?
Speaker 3 (23:57):
You know how exhausting it is as a d lineman
about and then have to sub back in in the
same drive. It's mentally, it's mentally mentally defeating, because if
that means usually like you know, you go four five
six plays, you come out four three plays, and you
still go in for another four five six, That's that's
mentally defeating. It's exhausting. We only get you know, you
(24:19):
only get so many players available on game day that
you run through your whole D line in that drive
and it's so hard to gain your stamina back, so
hard to catch your breath, and all it does is
just wear down on you. But I tell you this,
if I'm a fan, that's playoff football right there. That's
the epitome of playoff football, is winding the team down
(24:41):
and and and really just trying to make them quit.
And that's what those long drives do to defenses.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Let me ask you, like what you've seen in the Broncos,
I mean over the course of the season. Again, you're
playing in your own season, so I'm not expecting you
to know the ins and outs of every single game,
But what you've seen from the Broncos, are there things
that you still would want to know about them heading
into the postseason, like things that maybe would would hold
you back from believing that they could be a contender.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Yeah, just honking how much are they going to be
committed to the run games? And I think I think
that's everyone's question because ever since JK. Dobbins has been out,
R G. Hollvey R J. Harvey stepped up tremendously, don't
get me wrong, but it's inconsistent at times that the
inconsistent if they call it. So I think the biggest
thing is are they going to be consistent run team?
(25:35):
What type of runs do you want to get? Because
RG Harvey and JK. Dobbins are two completely different backs.
RGI Harvey is more outside speeding cut. So my idea
behind it is what is what is there going to
be their identity with the run game during the playoffs,
And I think that's the one thing that Broncos kind
of have to figure out for themselves because that's what
(25:56):
going to win them games when it's the four minute
drill in the quarter trying to waist the clock. You've
got to be able to know to rely on your
bread and butter and what you do and what your
identity is. And so that's really going to be the
biggest thing for the Broncos figuring out at offensive run
game identities.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
I think that's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I think for a lot of Broncos fans that's where
they're coming down on this thing. I mean, we're wondering
what kind of performance we'll get out of bon Nix,
but he'd been playing overall better football over the last
month or so. I didn't want to ask you a
defensive question, though, because there's a couple of sites that
track these kinds of things, like types of team coverages.
And again, don't laugh at me, I'm just going to
ask you the question here. The Broncos have been playing
(26:38):
more zone over the last month and a half than
they have over the course of the season. Is there
a reason why a team? Is it matchup based? Is
it performing? What would tend to go into a team
without knowing inside what's going outside the building? What would
go into a team deciding to play more zone than
man as they typically do?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Of the defense? You know what I mean, because obviously
you run man, you gotta have all your all, your corner,
all your corners, all this if he's available, I'll say,
with zone though, the idea behind man. I guess also
to us, who are you playing at receiver? Do you
do you feel like there's some mispatches where your corners
or safeties might get exposed. Is there is there a
(27:23):
speed heading that you don't want on a on a linebacker.
And so that's really the difference if you're trying to
figure out if you want to run man in zone.
Now the Broncos zone, they switch it up because they
do a bunch of zone blitzes and they do random
man blitten too, and they probably make a lot of
stuff look the same. And I do think with the
Broncos they have shown I actually think they're better man
(27:47):
coverage and they get credit for they have some like
obviously we know about Pasttember Rodley Moskts tried all the
time and even though he does get a couple of penalties,
he makes plays makes up player is non piped, so
you have to desk that corner to play man. But
I think a lot of the thing that makes the
Broncos defense so unpredictable is they have a lot of
(28:10):
exact lists out of their zone, and I think so
in order for them to hit that, you have to
be able to play zone behind themselves. And that's really
I feel like a big way of how you have
these free runners, and these free runners come around. You
have in the sack record for the Broncos right now
is because you don't really know what you're going to get.
(28:30):
They show so many different looks and a lot of
stuff looks the same and they come from different places.
And that's who I think the benefits of zone are.
And I definitely believe that the Broncos have the players
to run both and that's actually their best strengths right.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Oh no, And I'm one hundred percent with you.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
It's just you know, you watch these trends, and I
think some Broncos fans right now because teams are kind
of moving the ball against this defense a little bit
more in the last several weeks than we've used to
see earlier in the season, So people are kind of
looking into.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
You, why, why this is every defense you get figured
out at the end of the year, Like everybody kind
of figures out what you struggled with by the end
of the year, and so then right for the playoffs,
you have to do a whole nother like recheck of
your defense. There's like our defense, we've been giving up
bush yards because teams have figured out how like how
(29:23):
to hit us this year, and we had to go
and try to adjust that. And so the more film
that's out on your defense, teams will find more creative
ways to hit youes. It doesn't matter like you can
be the best zone team man teams the first fifteen weeks.
These offensive minds, these people that are in the building,
they're going to find, you know, ways to figure you out.
(29:47):
And that just happened later. The longer you're in the season,
the more film that's up, the better, the more chance
that you're gonna get explosed.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Fascinating, fascinating.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Okay, So then my last question on that is what
goes into maybe you can take us behind the curtain
a little bit until late season adjustments from a defensive
coordinator and a defensive staff. What goes into some of
those conversations on sowing some.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Of that up.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
So you's it's a cot and mouse game, is the
best way I can explain it. So without going into
two specific of terms. You know, let's say every time
the linebacker's head up on the center, he blitzes right,
and that's something that kind of got figured out towards
the end of the year. Well, then you would line
(30:32):
them up there and you can blitch and drop him out.
Then that's how you end up getting the pickers or
making a big play. It's just going against something that
you've shown all year, and defensive coach and offensive coaches
do this on purpose. They show you something all year
so that Kunstein when they need to, they're gonna show
it to you. You're gonna think, you know what's gonna happen.
(30:53):
The exact oppos is going to happen, and it's gonna
be a big play. And I think that's really what
a lot of these offens. It's all based on setting
stuff up for later. So yes, we allow you to see,
you know, these formations over the wain, We'll allow you
to think that we're gonna run these same plays. The
same with defens. We're gonna line up one way, I'm
gonna show you one do it this one way, and
then week seventeen, in the in the wild part of the playoffs,
(31:17):
we're gonna show this to you and then we're gonna
drop it in a completely different way, and it's going
to confuse you, and it's going to be at one
of the most important times of the game, and it's
gonna be a big play.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Very cool, Shelby.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
This has been a blast all season long, having a
chance to chat with you about not only what you're
doing with the Browns, but also about the rest of
the NFL.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Happy New Year to you, my friend.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
All the best to you and your family, and I
hope you hope we get to see it here in
studio here pretty soon.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
I'll I'll be back soon, but get wait to see you, guys.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
I appreciate you man, good stuff all right, the best
Shelby heirs.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Love chatting with that guy. Best of luck, of course,
so Shelby and his Browns.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
I know, thats against the Bigels. It's uh not the
season for either of those teams. Grant says that Miles
Garrett will not get the sack record. I'm inclined to
think that they're gonna find a way. I don't know
how it's gonna happen. It will be remarkable though, if
he gets a half sack and then he ties the record,
(32:18):
that will be kind of an interesting deal. But always
great stuff with Shelby Harris over the course of the year,
and again hoping we get to have him in studio
here for some playoffs. Well, the Broncos playoffs coming up
here in just a little bit five six, six, nine
zero has some great stuff there on the defense and
the cat and mouse game. I thought that last section there,
we're talking about the Broncos defense and why teams are
(32:39):
suddenly able to move the ball again.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
I mean, you even saw last week with the Texans.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
You see Ashton Jenny and the Raiders move up and
down the field and run the ball.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Against the Texans. That's expected to be the best defense.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
In the league right now, and even they had some
leaky yardage moments.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Same thing against the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
So to his point, you have these brilliant offensive minds
that watch the entire season of a defense and they
go over every possible advantage and so when they get
to these matchups, they've got a plan against you. And
(33:20):
I guess the good news is, especially if you're a
playoff team, you get a chance to learn before the
playoffs starts where maybe some advantages can be had against you. Right,
So for the Broncos defense getting a chance to have
Jacksonville and Green Bay move the ball against you as
well as they did, you say, aha, well there you go.
(33:40):
So we have this is a little bit of an
issue that we need to sew up and then he said,
on the other side of that is okay, well, you
now that you're aware of those things, what are you
going to do to counteract it? Or at least to
play the cat and mouse game with an opponent's opposing
offense and show them one thing and to do another.
I think that's a very fascinating back and forth. Now
this week against the Chargers, I don't know how much
(34:03):
you're going to see. In fact, if your fans, Joseph,
I wouldn't be surprised if the mindset is let's keep
everything contained, keep it in front of us. That probably
get a few sacks because this is an offensive line
that is giving up a lot of sacks. But in
the end, you're just not going to give up explosive plays.
You're probably gonna play this thing pretty close and that
that may not be great for Broncos fans, but you're
(34:25):
also not showing anything as you head into the postseason,
and there might be a little bit of a conscious
effort on both the offense and defensive side of the
ball to not show a lot in this game. Do
what you have to do to get the win. They
did that against the Chiefs. They obviously did that against
the Chiefs, so here against the Chargers. Now you've had
(34:46):
a week and a half to prepare for him.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
But what's the mindset?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Is the mindset just get out of here with a win,
get the one seed, be done with it, or do
you try to make statement.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
My guests would be the firmer.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
My guess would be the try to just get the win,
get out of there as healthy as possible, and head
into their bye week. We'll talk with Rod Smith about
that and more coming up next.
Five six six nine zeros or Kawae Commas.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Brade'll text line, I'm very excited to be here with
you along with Grant Smith, and we're gonna have Shelby
Harris joining us here at four point thirty. Get his
thoughts on the game against the Steelers. I can't wait
to ask him about the block he had there at
the line, being hugged while the offensive len see if
his wife was maybe a little jealous of how how
(00:22):
much he was being hugged. And then Miles Garrett coming
up at this last game against the Cincinnati Bengalsay, not
getting it. Nope, sorry, I didn't know. If we're still
I'm at Miles Garrett's not getting Oh that's see, I'm listen.
I'm kind of here for that. I'm kind of here
(00:42):
for me. He's gonna wins if Defensive Player of the
Year anyways, doesn't need the sack record. The Cincinnati Bengals
are not going to be bribed to give.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Him the sack record.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Nick Ferguson, Although theoretically I'm on the fence whether I'll
ask Shelby about.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
It or not.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Hey, if you guys thought about bribing the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
A lot of mercy.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
All there ridiculous things, and Nick says a lot like
Ben says a lot of ridiculous things, but Nick always
takes it to another level. But him making a someone
coaching argument yesterday, I think that the Browns, more specifically
Miles Garrett should bribe the Bengals offensive line to get
(01:29):
that sack.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Oh boy, when I said that, more hair just popped
up on my chest.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
All right, five six, six nine zero. You guys been
great this first hour flew by.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
We asked about.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Expectations, how much they've changed for the Broncos now that
they are in position to get the one seed on
Sunday with a win over the Chargers, who are sitting
at least their quarterback and more than likely a lot
of players will get more information as the week moves on.
I do want to talk about Nicole Yoakush here for
a moment, though, because we had a bit of a scare,
and I say bit that that really doesn't describe what
(02:03):
I think a lot of Nuggets fans felt last night
when you saw him go down and then limp off.
The court obviously ruled out relatively quickly after that in
the loss of the Miami heat. The loss is completely
his secondary doesn't even be described. The chasm between the
feelings of what Nuggets fans felt about that game and
more specifically, what was going to happen with Nikola Jokic.
(02:26):
But we did get relatively good news this morning, as
is reported by the Nuggets, that he was diagnosed with
a hyper extension of his left knee. We go get
Doc sneider On here at some point to talk to
him about this, but he was diagnosed with a hyper
extension in his left knee, is gonna miss at least
four weeks. And I think the at least isn't getting
(02:48):
enough credit here because it is good news, certainly good news,
and he was an MVP front runner from a betting
standpoint going into that game last night. Now a lot
of people are focusing in on the sixty five game
mark that he would have to clear at this point
if he comes back February first, it's around sixty three
(03:11):
sixty four, so it's going to be really close. My
wonder about this, not expectation, but my wonder about this
is if they'll just keep him out through the All
Star break, because there's only six more games at the
beginning of February before the All Star break, So you got.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Eighteen games in January, you got.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Six more, and then you can give him all of
that time off and then just make your run after that.
Now I don't want that, I'm not hoping for that.
It just would logically track if it's close at all.
And that's why when the report came out from Shanshrania
that it was at least four weeks, people were like, oh, celebration,
(03:52):
we'll get him back at the beginning of February.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Well, maybe you will.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
That would be outstanding, but there is nothing that is
going to happen this year as far as belief that
you can win a championship without Nicola Jokich. In fact,
I'm I'm gonna be wildly interested to see what David
Adaman is gonna do over this next month without him.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Everything about this team.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And you guys know this, I don't have to tell
you it's designed about Nicola Jokic, and as it should be,
everything the ball, everything it goes through Nicola Jokic. So
now do you redesign on the fly your entire office
right and right now you have only one starter, like
one week one starter in Jamal Murray. That's the only
(04:38):
guy that's healthy, and even he was kind of hobbling
around last night. So Jamal Murray is the last man
standing here, and you're eventually gonna get back Aaron Gordon
here relatively soon. You're gonna get back Christian Brown here
relatively soon. I did see on a podcast that Cam
Johnson said that he's doing better, so maybe that is
(04:59):
going to happen a little sooner. Seeing to get back
a few bodies here soon, but none of them are
in Nakoliokic.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So now it's about Treddy Water.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
It's trying to find wins where you can get them,
keep yourself in the playoff mix. It's like triage, but
it's kind of like that where you just say this
is what we're this is what we're about. We're gonna
try to test our skill. I hope they don't go
into Jamal Murray needs to play forty five minutes a night,
because that's not a bad that's not a good idea either.
(05:26):
He's gonna have to carry the load from a leadership
standpoint and from a scoring standpoint, certainly, but you're gonna
have to keep as minutes as close to normal as
you can get.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Off to marsonellows he's on fire.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
I love Chris Marlow. Are we gonna see more Holmes?
I would hope, So I hope you would get the
call up. There's there's a few things. I mean, there's
a few things you could do, but nothing compared to
nakoli Okic and what he does as far as the
challenges he presents for opponents on a night in, night
out basis.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And it's all facets. So I don't have to tell
you guys that it's all facets.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
So that's where David Adelman in his first full year
here now coaching the Nuggets, this is a different kind
of test. And I don't think I'm saying in a
test like if he doesn't pass, as in they don't
have more wins than losses in January, I'm suddenly going
to think different with him. No, it's just an understanding
(06:24):
that you are viewed as one of the best teams
in the NBA with the Kohli Jokic, but without him,
what are you and how creative can you be from
a coaching standpoint to keep yourself tethered to the playoffs
in this very difficult West that we've talked about a
lot that's gonna be fascinating to watch.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
But again, you can get some guys back hopefully that's
going to help a little bit.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
But overall good news from the Kohli Jokic. I think
you put the whole MVP conversation on the back burner.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I think we're beyond that now.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Like I said, from a triage standpoint, now it's just
about when do you get him back. If you can
get him back before the All Star break, gravy, if not,
give him through the All Star break, which is just
six more games, it's twenty four total.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
It's a lot. It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
But then you just gear up to make a real
run here of the postseason after the All Star break.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
But from now, like the next couple days, there's gonna
be a lot of competer probably.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I mean, what else are you supposed to do? Right,
that's a great drop grant. What else are you supposed
to do?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
And you can't. You're not gonna run around out there.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
You gettent hyper extended knee, just you know, a few curls.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
That's what they want to drinking the beer? Yeah, you
guys get it.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I think that it ultimately benefited this team to have
that belief pumped into the building. But again, you know,
we after the two losses, remember a lot of the
discussion around town was, oh, boy, Sean set this team
up for failure. You got these guys all fired up
thinking they were a super Bowl team, and now they're
one two. Hey, fast forward to now when you're like, wow,
(08:03):
you're thirteen and three with an opportunity to win the
first seat here in the AFC. A couple of texts here,
this one we're responding to the Nicole Jokish conversation we
just had. It's like having sixteen starters out and one
of them is your star quarterback. Gonna be tough to
stay afloat, but we were gonna have to find a way.
I mean that's exactly I mean, as comparable, I don't
(08:23):
almost sixteen starters, but I think it's a lot, right,
certainly star quarterback. If you would make a comp to
what Nicole Yokich means for the Nuggets on top of
all the other injuries they're dealing with, Yeah, it does
feel like you're, well, you're behind the eight ball, if
you will, right, And so again, I don't know, I
don't want to put two lofty of expectations here on
(08:45):
David Adaman in his first year. But at the same time,
this is why we say coaching matters. It's a little
different in the NBA than the NFL. But if this
is what you're gonna have to do, you're gonna to
find a way to get creative and see what that
See what that looks like over the core of a month,
maybe month and a half. Text line for the expectations
of the Broncos. Expectations are still mild. It's funny because
(09:08):
most of the texts we got in the last hour
or so were Super Bowl bound, but this one, expectations
are still mild. I think the Broncos are ahead of schedule,
but tough to get to thirteen wins with a chance
to run the table in your backyard, need to take
advantage of it. Super Bowl Oh okay, I should have
gotten to the end of it. So expectations are mild,
but acknowledging. Hey, we have an opportunity here. No clue
(09:35):
what your last show well of the year will be,
but think you grant Rick Susie would be a great
ending perfect chemistry. Well that's very kind it'll be me
and Vent all Bright tomorrow for the last show of
the year, Wet Blanket all Bright yeap.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
I don't see where the Wet Blanket is heading into
twenty twenty six. Maybe he is in a remarkably good boot.
I saw him yesterday when he was filled for Andy.
He's in a pretty good mood, of course. I think
when he gets a chance to talk politics and challenge
people this is kind of a bit thing, then he's
(10:13):
always in a good mood. Take time for whatever you
want it to be. But yeah, he'll be with you
tomorrow for three hours. Sax Siegers will be hanging out
with us for a little bit as well, and we'll
try to bring in the new year with you, and
then we have a Broncos country tonight Tomorrow night as well.
A couple more texts here. I would love to see
Max Crosby in the Orange Blue prayers for Joker.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
We're gonna miss him.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Broncos have to play heads up football. Max Crosby would
be interesting. But for whatever reason, the Raiders are hanging
on to him. And it's not to say I don't
understand he's a great player, it's just knowing that you're
not a player or two away. But teams will convince
themselves sometimes we get the right coach, we get the
right quarterback, and you see every single year the right
(11:00):
combination can make the difference.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
So one of the beauties of the NFL.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
But there's also a bit of an illusion there for
teams that are more than that away. I think it's remarkable,
you know, watching the Falcons last night and how much
talent they have. They've had their share of injuries. Certainly
the quarterback right Michael Pennocks wasn't consistent. We talked about
inconsistency with bot Nicks. It's another level with Michael PENNOCKX.
But you had injury there. Quarterback Drake London missed some time.
(11:30):
But between Jon Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Darnell Mooney,
that is a and they have a good offensive line too,
that's a very good team. I don't know what they're
gonna do with head coach. I don't know if they're
going to clean house with the coach and the GM.
They don't have a first round pick this year, but
(11:52):
they look like a team that could go to total
with anybody. Last night, now it helps when Matt Stafford
is having one of those games where he's just giving
the ball away and he was, they still had a chance, obviously,
if Puka Nakua can make that unbelievable catch on the sideline.
There's still people today, by the way, arguing on Twitter
that he did make the catch, as if the optical
(12:13):
illusion of the ball coming out of his hand didn't happen.
I'm like, wait, how are you still making that argument?
But really interesting game. Quickly before we get to Shelby Harris.
I'd asked Nick last night if Matt Stafford has a
big game or what would a big game for Matt
Stafford do for the MVP conversation. Nick said, it's already done.
(12:34):
Matt Stafford is your MVP. I said, Drake May. Drake
May is still in this thing. Not that I have
a rooting interest. I'm just I think we talked about
the MVP slow and behold. After Matt Stafford through three
interceptions last night, Drake May is now the betting favorite
to be MVP. I'm not surprised by it at all,
and I imagine that'll probably stay status quo in this
(12:57):
final week of the regular season and Drake May is
gonna win it.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
That's my expectation.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Now we'll see what Shelby Harris thinks when we come
back right here on ka WA. Shelby har is joining
us now on the ka Commasparate Health hotline. Shall be
my friend, good to chat with you. What a wed
of the Steelers?
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Man?
Speaker 1 (13:13):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
I'm doing great, Always way better after a w How
are you doing?
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I'm doing great?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Man.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Although it's funny because we were having fun talking yesterday
about how you were being accosted, you were being hugged.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
You were being mugged.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Out there when you got that batted pass of the
line on a key moment late in the fourth quarter.
Your wife after the fact say, you know, hey, listen,
tell that guy that that he's a taken man.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
He's like, that's my man. Like that no, like nobody
gets nobody gets to hold mind man but me. No,
good baby, I got you. That was that was not
There was no consent on that hug.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
There's no consent on that hug. Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
You know we sometimes get into the whole well, there's
holding on every play and it can happen all the time.
What what are you missing when you missed that hole.
The fact that you were able to steal back that
pass was tremendous.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
You know, I think I'm just gonna think that they're
they were watching Miles hoping he got the record that place,
and that where their eyes were.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
It's got to be that. There is no other explanation.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
I mean, you can see both arms around on your back,
like what else, what else do you gotta do?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
A full bear hug, full bear hug?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
You know, all the cool. We got to win, and
that's all that matters.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
That's all that matters. That's right, scoreboard and then listen, man,
it's a big win. Steelers needed that game. Now, they
put themselves at risk playing the Baltimore Ravens this week
for a win and get in. But I wanted to
say with the Browns for a second here, because it
did seem man, it did seem like and Miles said
it too, that a lot of the Steelers game plan
(14:51):
was let's just not let Miles get the record.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Did you guys really feel that way?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Many said they were on the steel talking about like
you're not going to get the record on me. You're
worried about that, and you need this win to clinch
the ANFC North and now you will only focus on
Miles not getting a record, and I don't know if
it has anything And I don't know this has anything
to do with because they're TJ Watt a Steeler as
(15:19):
that record. Also, you know you're trying to make it
out on them, but now you risk not even making
the playoffs. Did you end up playing a Lamar Jackson
Raiven team that it seems to be ascending? So you
were so focused on Miles not getting this record, but
in reality, like and we just the proof is in
(15:40):
the pudding. There was no type of downfield passing game
that they even attempted. They even tried to develop that
downfield passing game. So it was just it was idea
is that they were more focused with Miles not getting
the record instead of trying to really just get that win.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
That's what it felt like to me too.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
So I wonder because I heard Miles after the game
say that, and I said that on Monday yesterday to
Nick and He's like, oh, no way, no, no way,
the Pittsburgh Steelers would focus that much attention on it.
I'm like, I don't know, man, you watch that game
to me, just watching from the TV copy, it certainly
felt like everything they were doing was trying to keep
him away from Aaron Rodgers, and to their detriment, they
(16:20):
scored six points in the game.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Yeah, so I guess the bagusly I noticed was, you know,
Aaron Rodgers already throws the ball really quick. Yep, Well
we all know that he already he already knows what
defense you what you're in, and he knows where he
wants to go with the ball and when he wants
to take shots. And just felt like this was even
faster and it didn't just feel like that the stats
kind of provement that the time to throw was the
(16:45):
prod I think the passes of the season by far,
and it just it just really didn't help their offense
that much, especially when they were already injured at receiver.
So it's not like they had their guys that could
break tackles in go for eighty. You know, they didn't
have a DK Yes, they didn't have a Kalvinos that game,
and so already you're you're already behind the eight ball
(17:06):
and you really didn't like, you know, you didn't do
your touf any.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Papers, No, doubt about it. Shelby Harris joining us.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
So we're debating something yesterday when it comes to Miles
Garrett trying to get the sack record coming up against
the Bengals. Now, I don't know if these are split
second decisions you guys can make, because a half sack
will get him tied for the record, but obviously a
full sack gets him the record. Do you guys on
the defensive line and pass rush is theyre just like, hey,
(17:33):
if it's close, you got to like keep your hands
like away from the quarterback because because maybe he's swinging
around on the other side.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Like I mean, it's it's all split second.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
It's not like you're intending to share the sack with
Miles Garrett.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
But you guys think about that at all.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Well, you know how hard it is to get sacked
in this right, and how hard it is to get
sacked with Miles Garrett next to him, Like, we don't
have the privilege to be like, you know, Miles gonna
have that way because he takes all of them already
in the first place. We gotta go get ours while
we can, and it's just splitting them with Miles. It's
splitting them with Miles. I know he understands too. It's
(18:11):
it's it's the way we always look at it, and
you're asking any team it's a racist quarterback. Sometimes it's
a tip. But we obviously want Miles to break that record,
but also we're all competitives at the same time. We
want to get there too. We're trying to get there
every place. It's just that he's a freak and he
gets sevent for us over twenty fives a year, So
it's just that's just a natural part about mouths. But
(18:33):
everybody's still trying to go out there, rested passes, all
these stats matter. We're all trying to make this season,
SAT wise look as good as possible. But obviously Miles
is fighting for history and we want them to get it.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Yeah, no, and I know that, and we talked quite a.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Few times and it Listen, it's not the season you
guys hoped for, but that would be a little bit
of a feather in the cap. He's gonna win Defensive
Player of the Year at this point. I mean, I
can't imagine anybody else even in the conversation. But still,
but still for you guys, I know, on the defensive
line for the defense. What he means to you, I
know it means a lot. And you got this Bengals
game coming up now, Nick Ferguson, and you won't be
(19:07):
surprised to hear this. Nick Ferguson tried to make the
argument that Miles should bribe the Bengals offensive line. I'm like,
he can get there on his own. He doesn't need
to bribe anybody. I couldn't believe a player would stoop
to that level and try to talk about integrity and
then say, well, but you know, fifty thousand dollars.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Maybe that'll get it done. I think that is just
absolute insanity. Do you agree, Well, try.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
To take that Michael's straight hand route. Yeah, I get it,
I get it. But I would say you that Miles
would never go for that. You know. I think all
twenty plus of his ads this year have been hard earned.
And I really can say I have not seen teams
change their game plan up every week like they have
(19:53):
the last couple of weeks to try to stop Miles.
I'm talking about like even against the Bears, against you know,
against the Bills, like you know, Josh Allen had his
lowest passing total for the season against us because no
one's trying to drop back and throw the ball. And
so no matter what happens like this next game, this
is still by far the most impressive season I've ever
(20:15):
seen in the NFL. I just really want people to
understand like that, like teams are really not running their
plays because of this man. They're not even going into
their playbook because of this man in the way he's rushing.
And I don't think anybody's ever had that type of
impact on a game before as a defensive end.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
I think you're absolutely right, Shelby Harris joining us here.
So I don't even know.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
How to ask you this question, So I'm just gonna
kind of ask it. You've played against the Ravens and
the Steelers now twice. I don't know who you think
wins this weekend. I mean not rooting interest, I don't
You're never going to root for a team in your division,
But who do you who do you think is going
to have the upper hand in that game?
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Who would win if it is a time really know
who would have the tiebreak?
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Oh boy, that's a great question. I would I think
the Steelers. The Steelers right now are in that spot
right so like as we sit here in this moment,
the Steelers are the four seeds, so my guess would
be they would win.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Oh yeah, the Steelers would The Steelers would have the
upbrands at the time.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah, because they're nine. Yeah, they're nine to seven, of
course they would. Yeah, so they'd be nine seven and
one and the Ravens would be eight eight and one.
So yeah, it doesn't there's not even a tiebreaker there.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
This is a yeah. So Steelers in that case.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
In that case, only because they're making me choose, and
because Denver's former d lion and Draymond Jones on the Ravens,
I have would I would say I want to see
Draymond in the playoffs. That's my dogs having a great
year after the trades and Tennessee really has been a
game changer for the Ravens on the edge and which
(21:52):
is a different look than what we saw him in Denver.
It was an inside player in Denver. It's very rare
we see a guy go from inside to outside and
be a But I would love to see Draymond have
a productive postseason run, go out there and get a
whole nother bag again.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
You know, I could get behind that.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I mean, we don't have necessarily a rooting interest out here,
although I will say conceptually easier path might be playing
the Steelers in the postseason and the Ravens. The Ravens
are kind of coming on defensively and with their run games,
so they could be a little more dangerous in the postseason.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
So I guess for Broncos fans, if there is a
rooting interest, it probably be the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
But I like, I like that argument, and I would say,
I mean, there's a reason the Ravens are favored, honestly
in this one.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Yeah, I just think there's Ravens team. They're really starting
to hit their stride, and if they win this one,
I'll be worried for anyone that has to play them
in the playoffs. They're getting they're starting to hit their
stride a little bit. They're starting to kind of do
in this without Lamar Jackson, you know what I mean,
Like the Snoop's going out there and really done a
great job of getting the offense round, like really just
(22:57):
being the game manager, and then there can really come
on strong. So I don't think, you know, you substitute
Tyler Huntley for Lamar Jackson you're terrified right now. So yeah,
if all the Broncos up the jet, Like, if I
had to play anything, I'm definitely choosing the Stealers over
the Ravens is because any time you play Lamar Jackson,
he can go all the way. He gon fix any
(23:18):
time he touches the ball, and that's the trait that
not many players have. So it's just the dangerous the
ability that he brings, especially in like a playoff game.
That's not something you want to have to deal with.
And it stifles the pass rush. So that's not the
team you If anyone else they want to see it
as a win. But the Ravens, I feel like, are
(23:39):
going to be that team one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Shelby Harris joining us.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
I don't know if you have a chance to watch
the Broncos Chiefs game on Christmas Night, but in that game,
the Broncos had four drives of fourteen plays or more.
What does that do for a defensive line? What a
team is just moving the ball like that?
Speaker 3 (23:57):
You know how exhausting it is as a d lineman
about and then have to sub back in in the
same drive. It's mentally, it's mentally mentally defeating, because if
that means usually like you know, you go four five
six plays, you come out four three plays, and you
still go in for another four five six, That's that's
mentally defeating. It's exhausting. We only get you know, you
(24:19):
only get so many players available on game day that
you run through your whole D line in that drive
and it's so hard to gain your stamina back, so
hard to catch your breath, and all it does is
just wear down on you. But I tell you this,
if I'm a fan, that's playoff football right there. That's
the epitome of playoff football, is winding the team down
(24:41):
and and and really just trying to make them quit.
And that's what those long drives do to defenses.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Let me ask you, like what you've seen in the Broncos,
I mean over the course of the season. Again, you're
playing in your own season, so I'm not expecting you
to know the ins and outs of every single game,
But what you've seen from the Broncos, are there things
that you still would want to know about them heading
into the postseason, like things that maybe would would hold
you back from believing that they could be a contender.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Yeah, just honking how much are they going to be
committed to the run games? And I think I think
that's everyone's question because ever since JK. Dobbins has been out,
R G. Hollvey R J. Harvey stepped up tremendously, don't
get me wrong, but it's inconsistent at times that the
inconsistent if they call it. So I think the biggest
thing is are they going to be consistent run team?
(25:35):
What type of runs do you want to get? Because
RG Harvey and JK. Dobbins are two completely different backs.
RGI Harvey is more outside speeding cut. So my idea
behind it is what is what is there going to
be their identity with the run game during the playoffs,
And I think that's the one thing that Broncos kind
of have to figure out for themselves because that's what
(25:56):
going to win them games when it's the four minute
drill in the quarter trying to waist the clock. You've
got to be able to know to rely on your
bread and butter and what you do and what your
identity is. And so that's really going to be the
biggest thing for the Broncos figuring out at offensive run
game identities.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
I think that's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I think for a lot of Broncos fans that's where
they're coming down on this thing. I mean, we're wondering
what kind of performance we'll get out of bon Nix,
but he'd been playing overall better football over the last
month or so. I didn't want to ask you a
defensive question, though, because there's a couple of sites that
track these kinds of things, like types of team coverages.
And again, don't laugh at me, I'm just going to
ask you the question here. The Broncos have been playing
(26:38):
more zone over the last month and a half than
they have over the course of the season. Is there
a reason why a team? Is it matchup based? Is
it performing? What would tend to go into a team
without knowing inside what's going outside the building? What would
go into a team deciding to play more zone than
man as they typically do?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Of the defense? You know what I mean, because obviously
you run man, you gotta have all your all, your corner,
all your corners, all this if he's available, I'll say,
with zone though, the idea behind man. I guess also
to us, who are you playing at receiver? Do you
do you feel like there's some mispatches where your corners
or safeties might get exposed. Is there is there a
(27:23):
speed heading that you don't want on a on a linebacker.
And so that's really the difference if you're trying to
figure out if you want to run man in zone.
Now the Broncos zone, they switch it up because they
do a bunch of zone blitzes and they do random
man blitten too, and they probably make a lot of
stuff look the same. And I do think with the
Broncos they have shown I actually think they're better man
(27:47):
coverage and they get credit for they have some like
obviously we know about Pasttember Rodley Moskts tried all the
time and even though he does get a couple of penalties,
he makes plays makes up player is non piped, so
you have to desk that corner to play man. But
I think a lot of the thing that makes the
Broncos defense so unpredictable is they have a lot of
(28:10):
exact lists out of their zone, and I think so
in order for them to hit that, you have to
be able to play zone behind themselves. And that's really
I feel like a big way of how you have
these free runners, and these free runners come around. You
have in the sack record for the Broncos right now
is because you don't really know what you're going to get.
(28:30):
They show so many different looks and a lot of
stuff looks the same and they come from different places.
And that's who I think the benefits of zone are.
And I definitely believe that the Broncos have the players
to run both and that's actually their best strengths right.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Oh no, And I'm one hundred percent with you.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
It's just you know, you watch these trends, and I
think some Broncos fans right now because teams are kind
of moving the ball against this defense a little bit
more in the last several weeks than we've used to
see earlier in the season, So people are kind of
looking into.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
You, why, why this is every defense you get figured
out at the end of the year, Like everybody kind
of figures out what you struggled with by the end
of the year, and so then right for the playoffs,
you have to do a whole nother like recheck of
your defense. There's like our defense, we've been giving up
bush yards because teams have figured out how like how
(29:23):
to hit us this year, and we had to go
and try to adjust that. And so the more film
that's out on your defense, teams will find more creative
ways to hit youes. It doesn't matter like you can
be the best zone team man teams the first fifteen weeks.
These offensive minds, these people that are in the building,
they're going to find, you know, ways to figure you out.
(29:47):
And that just happened later. The longer you're in the season,
the more film that's up, the better, the more chance
that you're gonna get explosed.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Fascinating, fascinating.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Okay, So then my last question on that is what
goes into maybe you can take us behind the curtain
a little bit until late season adjustments from a defensive
coordinator and a defensive staff. What goes into some of
those conversations on sowing some.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Of that up.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
So you's it's a cot and mouse game, is the
best way I can explain it. So without going into
two specific of terms. You know, let's say every time
the linebacker's head up on the center, he blitzes right,
and that's something that kind of got figured out towards
the end of the year. Well, then you would line
(30:32):
them up there and you can blitch and drop him out.
Then that's how you end up getting the pickers or
making a big play. It's just going against something that
you've shown all year, and defensive coach and offensive coaches
do this on purpose. They show you something all year
so that Kunstein when they need to, they're gonna show
it to you. You're gonna think, you know what's gonna happen.
(30:53):
The exact oppos is going to happen, and it's gonna
be a big play. And I think that's really what
a lot of these offens. It's all based on setting
stuff up for later. So yes, we allow you to see,
you know, these formations over the wain, We'll allow you
to think that we're gonna run these same plays. The
same with defens. We're gonna line up one way, I'm
gonna show you one do it this one way, and
then week seventeen, in the in the wild part of the playoffs,
(31:17):
we're gonna show this to you and then we're gonna
drop it in a completely different way, and it's going
to confuse you, and it's going to be at one
of the most important times of the game, and it's
gonna be a big play.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Very cool, Shelby.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
This has been a blast all season long, having a
chance to chat with you about not only what you're
doing with the Browns, but also about the rest of
the NFL.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Happy New Year to you, my friend.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
All the best to you and your family, and I
hope you hope we get to see it here in
studio here pretty soon.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
I'll I'll be back soon, but get wait to see you, guys.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
I appreciate you man, good stuff all right, the best
Shelby heirs.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Love chatting with that guy. Best of luck, of course,
so Shelby and his Browns.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
I know, thats against the Bigels. It's uh not the
season for either of those teams. Grant says that Miles
Garrett will not get the sack record. I'm inclined to
think that they're gonna find a way. I don't know
how it's gonna happen. It will be remarkable though, if
he gets a half sack and then he ties the record,
(32:18):
that will be kind of an interesting deal. But always
great stuff with Shelby Harris over the course of the year,
and again hoping we get to have him in studio
here for some playoffs. Well, the Broncos playoffs coming up
here in just a little bit five six, six, nine
zero has some great stuff there on the defense and
the cat and mouse game. I thought that last section there,
we're talking about the Broncos defense and why teams are
(32:39):
suddenly able to move the ball again.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
I mean, you even saw last week with the Texans.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
You see Ashton Jenny and the Raiders move up and
down the field and run the ball.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Against the Texans. That's expected to be the best defense.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
In the league right now, and even they had some
leaky yardage moments.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Same thing against the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
So to his point, you have these brilliant offensive minds
that watch the entire season of a defense and they
go over every possible advantage and so when they get
to these matchups, they've got a plan against you. And
(33:20):
I guess the good news is, especially if you're a
playoff team, you get a chance to learn before the
playoffs starts where maybe some advantages can be had against you. Right,
So for the Broncos defense getting a chance to have
Jacksonville and Green Bay move the ball against you as
well as they did, you say, aha, well there you go.
(33:40):
So we have this is a little bit of an
issue that we need to sew up and then he said,
on the other side of that is okay, well, you
now that you're aware of those things, what are you
going to do to counteract it? Or at least to
play the cat and mouse game with an opponent's opposing
offense and show them one thing and to do another.
I think that's a very fascinating back and forth. Now
this week against the Chargers, I don't know how much
(34:03):
you're going to see. In fact, if your fans, Joseph,
I wouldn't be surprised if the mindset is let's keep
everything contained, keep it in front of us. That probably
get a few sacks because this is an offensive line
that is giving up a lot of sacks. But in
the end, you're just not going to give up explosive plays.
You're probably gonna play this thing pretty close and that
that may not be great for Broncos fans, but you're
(34:25):
also not showing anything as you head into the postseason,
and there might be a little bit of a conscious
effort on both the offense and defensive side of the
ball to not show a lot in this game. Do
what you have to do to get the win. They
did that against the Chiefs. They obviously did that against
the Chiefs, so here against the Chargers. Now you've had
(34:46):
a week and a half to prepare for him.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
But what's the mindset?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Is the mindset just get out of here with a win,
get the one seed, be done with it, or do
you try to make statement.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
My guests would be the firmer.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
My guess would be the try to just get the win,
get out of there as healthy as possible, and head
into their bye week. We'll talk with Rod Smith about
that and more coming up next.
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