DOWN Go the Browns + Big Fletch's Heavyweight Commander Championship | The Booth Review Podcast | Washington Commanders | NFL

Bram Weinstein and London Fletcher recap the dominating Washington Commanders victory over the Cleveland Browns, preview the upcoming Baltimore Ravens matchup, and London crowns the first ever Big Fletch Heavyweight Commander Champion! Hosts: Bram Weinstein, London Fletcher Producer: Jason Johnson

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
On this edition of The Booth Review. The Commanders rolled
at Cleveland yesterday.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
And we're talking about a dominating defensive performance.

Speaker 1 (00:07):
And I wonder are we good? Like real good? Oh?

Speaker 2 (00:11):
And I'm also gonna give out Big Fletch's heavyweight championship belt.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
It's all next on the Booth Review. Welcome into another
Victorious Booth Review podcast. I'm Bram Weinstein with the man
who was Frankie Luvu before Frankie Luvu was Franky Lou
London Fletcher. What a game yesterday, man, what a game? Man.

Speaker 3 (00:33):
I think Frankie's my spirit animal.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Everybody.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, yes, I want to be here when I come
back in a reincardation.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
I want to see a lot of four jerseys in
the stands next time. Who brings the energy more than
that guy these days?

Speaker 2 (00:45):
Nobody, nobody, And you know he keeps playing like that,
you'll definitely see his his jersey fill in the stadium.

Speaker 3 (00:52):
But I'll stand a job by everybody it was.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
I will get into the defense. I actually want to
start with them first, and then we'll get into the
offense and Jayden's day and all the point that they're
putting up on what was a very good defense yesterday.
But I want to start with what happened after the
game with you, because I thought what Dan Quinn and
the team did in your return. You've been obviously been
away for a few weeks dealing with a family matter,
and I watched him give you a game ball, which

(01:16):
I thought was really touching.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, yeah, so, you know, just just dealing with the
depth of my wife who she passed away on September seventeenth,
and and it's been rough. It's been you know, the
last few weeks have been rough as you can imagine,
for my children, myself, you know, my family in general.

(01:38):
But the support that we've received from our community back
in Charlotte, from the team, Coach Quinn, he reached out
to me, you know, the week that she passed, and
also Adam Peters reached out to me. And then yesterday
being my first game back. Didn't expect anything, but when

(01:59):
we when I we interviewed coach Quinn after every home
game or after every game, and as we're getting set
to interview him, he he comes to me, he gives
me the game ball, and it gives me a game ball,
and it was just, you know, something that he wanted
to give to me and my children, and you know,
just like man, this is you know London. We appreciate
everything you've done, what I mean to this organization. You

(02:21):
know what I've done for this organization. So I just
with with with him. He just gets it, you know,
just on a I didn't play for him. I didn't
you know, had this great relationship with him prior to
meeting him this year.

Speaker 3 (02:36):
But just man, he just he just gets it.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
And you know that goes a long way when he's
so aware of people and you know, all the things
they're dealing with, not just on the field, off the field.
I'm sure he feels the same way and does that
with his players as well.

Speaker 3 (02:51):
So it meant a.

Speaker 1 (02:52):
Lot to me. Yeah, you know, I'll tell you because
like before the Arizona game, you'd missed the Cincinnati game,
but you know, we didn't know what was going on
at the end point in time, and then unfortunately things
obviously accelerated. And before the Arizona game, you know, I
get to talk to him, you know, in preparation for
the broadcast, and he pulled me aside and asked, what's
going on with you? Yeah, wanted to know, you know,
tell me the story, what's happening. So he's he's preached this,

(03:16):
women have relationships with people right here. Yeah, and he's
lived up to every word of it. And I think
you're I think you're seeing this in the way the
team plays too, that there's a genuine care for one another.
There's a chemistry that's going on here. And a lot
of people say football's family. In this case, it feels
like it. It's in this building.

Speaker 3 (03:31):
Oh yeah, absolutely, And I was. I shared this with
coach Quinn.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
I shared this with you guys, you as well and
some other people one Over the last few weeks. As
I mentioned, it's been rough losing my wife, but one
of the joys that I've had has been watching the
team play.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yeah, watched the watch.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
The Jizz game and and my wife, she was still
living at that point in time, but she was, you know,
on a on a don ward spiral. So watched the
team win that game, the Monday night football game against
the against the lot of the Detroit me not the
Detroit lines, the the Cincinnati Bengos. I mean just watching
that game, which is man, it was a joy to watch,
really boss, uh, you know, smile on my face and

(04:10):
then last Sunday's game against Arizona. We actually had my
wife's memorial service that Sunday.

Speaker 3 (04:18):
And it was the game.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
The repass kind of started around four o'clock and I
had the ability to have televisions on at the repass
and we had we had the game going on with
the Cardinals and uh, you know, us playing the Cardinals
and and I'm kind of kind of halfway watching because
a lot of people are talking to me, but I'm
kind of want to look at the scoring them and

(04:42):
I'm watching the guys play and you know, obviously having
that big win. It just was those were those three
games just brought a great deal of you know, happiness
to me during during the trying times.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
I got to tell you too, like we missed you
because you missed the joy ride.

Speaker 3 (05:00):
Oh, I mean this is this is and I.

Speaker 1 (05:03):
Mean I think speak for a lot of people because
I've lived it my whole life too, that there's this
part of its disbelief watching them because they're it's so good, yes,
that it doesn't feel real. Some of the numbers were outrageous,
and we're doing this every week. I mean, here's here's
this week's ridiculous numbers. That the Commanders are doing. Per

(05:24):
NFL research, Washington's the first team since nineteen seventy to
score one hundred and fifty plus points in their first
five games while starting a rookie quarterback. They've scored. They've
won two consecutive games by twenty or more points for
the first time since nineteen ninety seven. On Jane Daniels,
he's the first player in NFL history to have one
thousand passing yards of two hundred and fifty plus rushing
yards in their first five career games. And I haven't

(05:46):
I don't know how many times over the last few weeks,
I've said since World War Two, since nineteen ninety one,
since this, since they are they are literally rewriting their
own franchise history. Yes, they are rewriting what a rookie
could quarterback can do. And I think they are doing
something that feels even bigger. That's unprecedented than all of it.

(06:07):
They have thirty new players, new coaching, new front office.
It is baked in. It would not be like this
and right now, and this is I don't think it's
an understatement. Nobody's playing better than them in the NFL.
Nobody nelectively is playing better than them right now in
the NFL, and I can't believe it right right right.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
So watching it on television has been one thing like
I've been one like man, I want to cut back.

Speaker 3 (06:33):
And experience it. And I.

Speaker 2 (06:36):
Think you and I text after the Monday night game
against the Bengos and watching it, watching it live, well,
watching it on television. I mean, Jaden that ball was
just flying, popping out of his hands. He was magical
that night. And I just like, man, how does Bram
and Logan you guys feel being able to call those games.

Speaker 3 (06:55):
And the energy and excitement.

Speaker 2 (06:57):
I couldn't wait to get back to around it, to
see it in up close and impersonal of Colse in person,
being at the stadium yesterday. The amount of people that
were on the sideline pregame, it's the most that people
that I can remember shoot ever ever. And we've had,
you know, during my time, we had I was here

(07:18):
with the RG three rookie year and you know we won,
we won a couple of we want a Division against
the Cowboys that that season. But the amount of people,
the energy and all that excitement, that's more than I
can I can remember ever since I've been a part
of this franchise.

Speaker 1 (07:35):
People are into it. I mean, yes, you know, like
in and around every day just walking around the city.
I mean, the conversations that I'm having with people is
just very different now, but a lot of it does
kind of go back to this level of I think
people haven't seen this in a very long time, me either,
And that's part of this that we're all kind of
like what is going on here? Because this is it's

(07:55):
it's not just that they're good, it's just kind of
beyond an expectation. And I think, I mean, I don't know,
like I hate saying this out loud, but like, I
don't even think quinnin Peters could have thought that it
would be this good, this fast. And it doesn't mean
that it's going to stay that way, and we'll get
into that in a little bit, but it feels like
it's so far ahead of what anybody could have expected

(08:17):
at this point that I don't even know what to
say about it.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah, I think the big thing is you don't you
really don't see a rookie play this well so quickly,
so soon, Like you you mentioned first five games of
his career, but not only that, the thirty New players
in the offensive line, the way they've been playing.

Speaker 3 (08:40):
I don't think.

Speaker 2 (08:42):
Nationally or even maybe even locally that the offensive line
has gotten as much credit as they deserve, because, you know,
quite frankly, it was a question mark coming into the season,
like what's this offensive line going to be? You have
you know, potentially you're gonna have three new starters, You're
gonna the tackle positions were question mark. Those guys have

(09:03):
been a strength. I mean they they have played out
standing in football. I ran into I've been running to
Tyler Biottish on the way in today and I just.

Speaker 3 (09:12):
I just told him.

Speaker 2 (09:13):
I was like, dude, you have been balling like I mean,
you have freaking been balling like this. He did some
of the things he's been doing, and obviously his linemates
as well. But very under the radar signing too. When
you look at, hey, the free agent signing didn't get
it Gardner a whole lot of attention. I think Alan Grady,

(09:33):
who's played well, is who's played really well. Also, he
may have gotten even more kind of fan for fear
or attention with him his free agent signing. But you know,
the way Biatis has played in the offensive line, in general,
and then the left tackle position with Cordnelius Lucas and
and Brandy Colan.

Speaker 3 (09:52):
Bandon Coleman platooning at that position. They both played well well.

Speaker 1 (09:56):
Miles Garrett did not make the statuet. I know it's
I saw someone treat this out, so I'm just gonna
have to take them at their word that this is correct.
But they said it's only the second time in his
career that he didn't register a literal statistic in a
game that he's played, which makes sense. He's the reigning
NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He's one of the
best pass rushers of his generation. He came in off

(10:21):
of a two sack game with seven pressure game. He's
got some of the most he's been hurt too, and
playing with most quarterback pressures through four weeks. Yeah, like
to actually have a rookie over there to actually literally
eliminate him as a factor. Ought to tell you what's
going on for the offense.

Speaker 2 (10:40):
Right And I'm sure because you watch a lot of
game film of the opponent coming in that we're about
to play, and I'm sure when you watch that film
of Miles Garrett in preparation for the game, you like,
oh my goodness, how we go to stop this guy?
Because I'm watching him like he is a game record.

Speaker 3 (10:57):
He can ruin your day. That's how disruptive.

Speaker 2 (10:59):
Is disruptive he is and was coming into this game
and for him not to register. He had as many
tackles as I had in that ball game yesterday and.

Speaker 1 (11:10):
I didn't play.

Speaker 2 (11:11):
So but it's a testament to the offensive coaching staff
and the game plan they put together. There were some
times where you know, they single blocked them. They also
you know, double team them, chipped them, things like that,
because with a guy like him, you have to put
a lot of attention on him. And you mentioned Brandon
Coleman and Corneas Lucas. Those guys they held their own

(11:33):
against him, and Miles Garrett is one of the most
feared defensive players in the National Football League.

Speaker 3 (11:39):
You Know.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
The other thing I think it really stands out about
yesterday was so in the two games against the Giants
and the Bengals and basically against Arizona where they punted once. Yeah,
they were perfect on offense, like practically perfect. They'd scored
on almost every drive. The efficiency was off the charts.

(12:00):
Some of the crazy numbers we were citing were Jade
and Daniel's completion percentage, which was among the best of
any quarterback at any point in time in any season ever.
Name who you think were the best quarterbacks ever, Tom Brady, Payton, Manning.
He was doing things they hadn't even done, and he
did it in his first four games, not yesterday, right now, yesterday.
That didn't happen yesterday. Like yesterday, they the defense gave

(12:23):
him a fourth and one stop right on that which
was I thought was terrible play call by Cleveland, but
that's not important right now, got him a fourth and
one second second straight week they got They got the
other team to do what I thought was a crazy
play call on a fourth and one, but stopped it
right They get the ball three and out minus nine yards.
Defense turns around, gets a three and out, gets the
ball back. The next drive is the one that includes
the long play to Terry. But here are the other

(12:45):
plays that happened in that drive. A minus three yard
pass to Austin Eckler, an incompletion to Terry, Jayden runs
for minus two and incomplete's pass to Ertz, and an
interception at the one yard line. So outside of one
big play. Everything else was either negative or nothing or
a turnover. Every other play that they ran, what's the

(13:05):
d three and out punt? Next possession? It took them
a fourth and two conversion to get to the score.
What do they do next possession? Three and out? Again.
This was the worst quarter that the offense has played
the entire season. And I look up at halftime, they
got twenty four points on the board, and we're sitting

(13:26):
there going, they're not playing very well, and they still
put twenty four points on the board against what should
be a top ten defense.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
That's what you call complimentary football when one aspect of
your unit is not playing well. Special teams in defense
were able to kind of hold everything in bay, or
you know, hold everything in place until the offense got
it going.

Speaker 3 (13:51):
The interception that Jaden threw in the Brands.

Speaker 2 (13:54):
All the defense they go out after that interception, they
I think they got clean on a three and now get.

Speaker 1 (14:01):
Three and out, and then all back at the Cleveland
thirty four at the Nam return of the.

Speaker 2 (14:05):
Big pub return, and then we were finally able to
get some points after that.

Speaker 3 (14:09):
So it was just a matter of kind of weather
in the storm.

Speaker 2 (14:13):
I thought Jaden was a little unsettled early in the
ball game, just maybe rushing things a little bit or
or you know, not not being as clean as he
normally had been.

Speaker 1 (14:24):
And we were trying at corners that they faced.

Speaker 3 (14:26):
Yeah, the corners.

Speaker 1 (14:27):
In the safeties were playing up on the line. Yeah, yeah,
a wooster Cormo had made it. Not only just the interception,
but a couple very early plays in the backfield. I
think this was the first time that they felt the pressure.
The pressure this was the best defense.

Speaker 2 (14:38):
And not only that, you we were operating in a
several third and long situations, right, so you going, you know, hey,
now you got to deal with Miles Geart and he
didn't end up. Zadarius Smith got the first sack for Cleveland.
So they had a couple other guys that can that
can get after the quarterback. They also you mentioned Jeremiah
whistle Cormore, really good blitter. They plays in the backfield

(14:59):
a lot. He he's a really good player. I thought
they did a good job defending our rpo ours own
reads early in the game. Really, you know, they had
a good game plan and it took us a while
to kind of crack the code for Cleveland. But again,
because the defense is playing so well, because the special
teams in that big punt return that eliminates the key,

(15:20):
has had to set the offense up. That's complimentary football.
And the fact that you mentioned that the offense wasn't
playing you know, quote unquote, well, and yeah, we had
twenty four points at halftime.

Speaker 3 (15:33):
That's a testament to this team.

Speaker 1 (15:34):
Well, the last three drives of the first half of
field goal touchdown, touchdown, Yes, including a two minute drive
where it was no problem walking down the field. And
then Jayden walks over to his offensive coordinators, has called
this play, and he does, and they call that plane.
It's forty one yard touchdown. I mean, this is again
this kind of goes back to is this real? Is
if you find out after the fact what they're doing,

(15:56):
how they're doing it, just the level of execut should
even when things aren't specifically going your way, it's remarkable.
It really is.

Speaker 2 (16:05):
Think about this too, And if memory starts me correctly,
right before the half, Cleveland got the ball maybe a
little over three minutes left, defense has a three and out,
they got they got the punt, they have to punt.

Speaker 1 (16:20):
Washington had to burn and Tin out earlier too, So
we were saying on the air, you know, they got
a shot to get the ball back, but they're not
gonna have a lot of timeouts to cofer, so if
they stop them, they might have time.

Speaker 2 (16:28):
Right, And we got the ball back like a minute
of thirty three seconds. Great field position, but again complimentary football.
The defense goes out right before the end of the
half gets that three in out. Uh terrible was that
at the time when he had a terrible punt or
it was just a it was just a we got
We called it a nice field.

Speaker 1 (16:48):
Bejorquez, I can't remember.

Speaker 2 (16:49):
Yeah, he had a bad part of that punt, but
we had good put, great field position a minute thirty
three seconds, which was an eternity, you know, based on
where we are, we almost I think maybe about a
forty yard line close to it. And you mentioned Jadeen
going to the sideline and tell it, tell the cliff, hey,
they're playing man and man, let's take.

Speaker 3 (17:08):
This shot deep.

Speaker 2 (17:09):
And it was a great route by Diammy Brown because
he had he had like two steps on the on
the defender of a really good corner and Martin Emerson Jr.
He's he was coming in you know, he gave up
a couple of plays last week, but typically for the
most part this season, he had played good football for them,
and for Diami to be, you know, two steps in

(17:31):
front of him and Jayden to put a perfect pass.
I mentioned this in our post game interview with coach Quinn.
I asked to mention this, the fact that they they
had Luke McCaffrey come in motioned down and hip Miles
Garrett just to give just to give Jayden a little
bit more time, did a Jayden did a great job

(17:51):
of holding the safety, looking down the middle of the
field and then throwing that perfect pass.

Speaker 3 (17:55):
Man. He couldn't have handled that ball off better. Uh,
to Diami Brown.

Speaker 1 (17:59):
I want to go I'll go back to the offens
in a minute, but I want to stay on the defense.
I actually think they were the story honestly yesterday. I
know all the points and Jayde and that throw to
Diami and the throw to Terry. It's all like incredible
moments that they've had, But there are certain points fourth
and one on the first drive to get a stop there.
They hadn't stopped anybody. Every opposing team had scored on
their first drive. It's the first one that did not

(18:19):
in five games. That was a big stop fourth and
one in their territory. After the interception, they get a
three and out immediately give the ball back. At the
end of the half. After Washington scores, Cleveland punted on
a fourth down with nine seconds left because they were
concerned about not getting a first down and giving us

(18:40):
a chance at a hail Mary. That's how concerned they
are with what they they That is an underrated moment
that they didn't just chuck one up. They said, we're
going to punt the ball because we're so nervous about
giving you the ball back with two seconds on the clock.
And then in the second half, it's twenty four to three.
The first play of the second half is a fumble
and they yes, they hold them. The defense won. You know,

(19:03):
it is the first time, you know, I think the
Arizona game was. Boy, they were overwhelming on both sides
of the ball. This was actually the one where the
defense held the fort down, made play after play, every
key moment. They got it done. And then the offense
did what they've done, which is largely run the ball
very well against people. Yeah, I thought the you.

Speaker 2 (19:24):
Know, I all to get all the plays and sequences
just that you just mentioned. The one that probably had
the biggest impact, especially given what could have happened, was
after the turnover, after Terry fumble and there is an opportunity.

Speaker 3 (19:38):
We were up twenty four to three.

Speaker 1 (19:39):
Cleveland gets a touchdown on that score immediately, it's different.

Speaker 2 (19:43):
It's a different momentum they had. They had the ball
first and goal from the two yard line, ended up
having I think a false star. Then they had a
delay a game, had to take burn and time out,
all those types of things for the defense to keep
them out of the end zone right there in that
moment and gave They gave up a field go. I
felt like that was a win and that was also

(20:05):
a part, a huge part in that game because it
kept kind of the momentum in our favor.

Speaker 1 (20:10):
You could see the body language we were talking about
it on the earth the Browns early when they started
having a lack of success on offense, you could see
it like they were wearing it. Like I saw this
the week before against the Raiders. They were getting behind.
I thought the whole game was first ounce yesterday. With them,
I find them to be semi uncreative to be fair.
They run the ball a lot, they're predictable what they do.

(20:33):
They get behind the sticks where they have a lot
of second and eight, second and nine stuff like that.
Deshaunt's holding the ball too long, and some of that
attributed to the sac numbers that they had. He's just
holding the ball too long. He's not performing the position
at a very high level right now, which is to
the benefit of Washington. But if you had watched the
week before against the Raiders during run plays, there were
obvious run plays. Their receivers weren't even going off the line.

(20:55):
They were totally disengaged, like the body like, you can
just tell that they don't have a belief in what
they're doing on that side of the ball right now.
So I kind of knew, and I think you knew
too if they had struggle, if they struggled early, you
could feel it that it was wearing on them and
it was going to open the door for a type
of performances the defense had.

Speaker 3 (21:15):
Well just think about that.

Speaker 2 (21:16):
Contrast that with our guys on the flip side in
terms of the running game and how our receivers are
blocking downfield and making sure they're they're doing things to
help in the run game. Coach Quinn and and Cliff,
they talk a lot about receivers and guys playing without
the football in the hand, whether it's a bliss pick

(21:37):
up by running back or downfield blocking by a tight
end or receiver. Things like that, those things, making those
things matter, that can be the difference in picking up
a first down, scoring a touchdown. Luke McCaffrey on on
b Rob's first touchdown run. McCaffrey has a great block

(21:57):
in the run game if b Rob broke it tackle,
but because Luke also had a great block, that allow
him to get into the end zone without having to
you know, avoid another defender or break another tackle.

Speaker 3 (22:09):
So all those things matter. And if you don't.

Speaker 2 (22:12):
Demand that in practice, you don't demand it as a
coaching staff, which weird which they are demanding it. It
buys you, and it costs you games, and it costs
you uh cost you successful plays.

Speaker 1 (22:25):
Let's talk about Frankie Luv for a minute.

Speaker 3 (22:28):
Man, Let's do it. So let's talk about Frankie.

Speaker 1 (22:30):
So I remember when whenever you know this team signs anybody,
I always call the people from the other teams. Just
you tell me about the player. And this was one.
I'll never forget this. I talked to three different people
who cover the Panthers, and I talked about Chin and Luvu,
and all of them said the same things. About all
three of them. They said, with Jeremy Chin, we understand
why they didn't resign him. He's just been injured a lot,

(22:50):
and that's that's all it is. They're like, we love him,
it's just he's been injured a lot, So we get it.
All of the other ones so and I said Frankie Louvo,
they all said the same thing. We have no idea
why they didn't want to bring him back, because he
was a heartbeat of the team. He brings the energy
that you're seeing here. They didn't understand it, and they said,
we don't know what they don't want in him, and

(23:12):
their GM's a former linebacker. It's unbelievable that they wouldn't
do it. He has been everything that they said he
was going to be. He's become a heartbeat of the team. Obviously,
go look at these locker room scenes that you're seeing
with him, and on the field. I don't know how
he plays the way he does down in every single down.
It's like his hair's on fire and he's a problem.

Speaker 2 (23:34):
So to even piggyback on what you just said, your
former my former teammate and the guy who I replaced
in the booth, Diagelo Hall. He's on the Panthers' coaching staff.
I've talked to Diagelo several times. Ran into Himdonna Charltte,
we both lived down there, and he was like, Fletch,

(23:56):
this is unsolicited. Fletch, you are going to love Frankie Louvill.
That's verbatim what he said. You are going to love him,
and bye guy. I love the way Frankie plays plays
the game with football. He's just he's all about it.

(24:17):
The physicality, plays with the intensity, the passion. Like you
can tell, he just loves playing football, and I just
appreciate him. I'm glad that the Carolina Panthers opted not
to resign him for whatever reason that may be.

Speaker 3 (24:34):
But we're so happy to have him.

Speaker 1 (24:37):
Yeah. I don't think our corners got tested as much
in this game that I and I guess I'm not
surprised by that because Deshaun Watson came in is the
most pressured quarterback, the most sacked quarterback. Some of that
is their offensive line was really beat up, even though
it was a little healthier yesterday than it has been.
Jeddrick Wills had returned, but they're still missing people why it.

(24:58):
Teller is out, Jack Conklins out, so they're missing a
lot of people. So they've been really beat up there.
They're also the communications off on their line. I think
this is why people are bringing so much pressure. And
Watson frankly is not seeing the field very well. He's
holding onto the ball way way, way too long. There
was one play where he scrambled. It was a second
and longer, third and long. I don't remember which one
it was. He scrambled out. He's five yards past the

(25:20):
line of scrimmage. Mike saberstill hits him, okay, and he
pumps like he's going to throw the ball, and Samber
still doesn't fall for it. He knocks him out of bounce.
He was three yards in bounds when he took the hit.
And then Watson got up and was mad like he
shouldn't have hit him this way. And I looked at
you and I went, I don't think he knows where
he is on the field, Like he's five yards past
the line of scrimmer. So he can't throw the ball

(25:42):
and he's not even remotely close to the side at all.
So why does he think he's not going to get I.

Speaker 2 (25:47):
Think that was a third down play. Yeah, I don't.
It's almost like he he felt like he was at
a practice or you have so many protections as a
quarterback that no, he's not gonna hit me. I'll say this.
You mentioned the corners. I thought Benjamin Saint Juice played outstanding.

Speaker 3 (26:05):
He did. He played outstanding. There was they he was.

Speaker 2 (26:08):
He shadowed Amari Cooper in that ball game. Cooper had
a couple of catches. It was mainly when we were
playing his own defense where you know, it wasn't where
Juice was man a man locked up on him. But
there were some times where he was blanking in him me.
He was great in coverage. They tried to get him
with a kind of a post corner route. Saint Jukes

(26:30):
did a great job of playing proper leverage, staying on
the outside of the outside shoulder of Amari Cooper, and
when he tried to come back to the corner route,
he was right there. Disrupted the timing of the route
big incompletion because if he doesn't stay with the correct leverage,
that's going to be a completion with the probably about
a twenty twenty five yard completion. But I thought he

(26:51):
was outstanding in coverage yesterday. I thought egg bnogny he
had a couple couple of nice plays. But to your point,
though Cleveland's offense, I probably can rewatch that game ten
times and steal not understand what they would try to accomplish.

Speaker 1 (27:07):
I don't either, especially in the early downs, especially when
you juxtaposed it against what Washington's doing. Where I think
where Cliff deserves a lot of credit is they're very
creative on first down and if they can get Jayden
in company into the second and five, second and six
is this is where the world's their oyster. They open
up the playbook because if it's not there, Jayden can
always run, always can He can always get at least

(27:28):
a few yards and get him in a third and short,
if not get a first down on his own. It's
when they get in the second and lungs and what
Cleveland is doing. I watch them, and I go the
first play of the game. They actually surprised me, and
they ran like kind of a They ran a rollout,
a designed rollout, got the ball out of his hands,
got a first down. They never did it again. Every
play is this either short dump off or run up

(27:49):
the middle. That's their problem. I mean they I walked
in going. They are very uncreative. This whole game is
on first down. Washington can get themselves in these second
and five, second and six is they can limit that
pass rush from Cleveland. And if Cleveland is true to
form and just runs these up the middle runs, it
gets them in second eighty, second to nine. Well guess
what because they can't protect right now, their lines beat up,

(28:11):
Watson holds onto the ball too long. You could have
a day like this and they did. Ye.

Speaker 2 (28:16):
It was it was the fact that they didn't even
run the type of runs that had been hurting our
defense prior to their brows game the second half.

Speaker 3 (28:25):
Yes, late in the second half.

Speaker 2 (28:28):
It wasn't like fourth quarter where they finally ran some
off tackle perimeter type runs where they would called the
pinning pool where you pull an office in lineman and
that run has been a run that has given us problems.
You know, for the majority of the season, the Browns
didn't run those type of run plays until the fourth quarter.

Speaker 1 (28:47):
Yeah, which thank you, loaded, like sarcastically goes. They were
setting that up all game. Yeah, yeah, twenty four to three,
you know, like waiting for it. I mean it's funny
like last week too, even at Arizona. I knew you
weren't there. But I think they outthought themselves against Washington,
Like they had showed that they were going to bring
pressures and they dropped eight I don't know how many

(29:10):
times forty two points later. Yeah, they didn't cross them up.
They didn't play the form. Cleveland never went to the
things that worked. They stayed true to exactly what they've done,
which hadn't worked up to that point. Thank you, yeah, really,
thank thank you. Hun And I think talk about this though.

Speaker 2 (29:30):
Joe Whitt junior, he's been talking about the defense not
being that far off from playing to the style of
play where he's like the physicality, but also being playing
a type of football that he thinks they can play.
Yesterday now they clean the Browns had a little success
on some runs late in the game. I'm not you know, yeah,

(29:52):
you would love to hold them to a hundred yards,
but I think with the exception of not getting the
interception or two, that's the way he wants his defense
to play.

Speaker 1 (30:02):
Yeah, they still haven't got an interception at five games.
That's right yet for twelve on third down and ended
up being one for thirteen, but the one was late
in the game when over twelve when it mattered on
third down. I thought John Allen had his best game.
He was active in the middle of the line, and
the edges have gotten better two weeks in a row now.
Duran's Armstrong. It's been a problem for people. I think
he was the recipient of some help with Jack Conklin out.

(30:24):
Dwan Jones has been injured. He's a big guy, doesn't
move that fast. You can get around him fast. Armstrong
took advantage of him. And I've been seeing this for
the last two weeks too. And I was glad to
see Dante Fowler get a sack because he was injured
at the late late in camp, it was kind of limited.
I think it went under the radar that he was
a little limited. He's getting his feetback under him too.
In the last couple of weeks. He's been very close
to making plays and had one yesterday as well.

Speaker 2 (30:46):
He did he was I thought he was a he
flashed man. He flashed a lot. You mentioned John Allen,
he was active. What impressed me more so than the
pass rush the way he played to Ron just getting
off blocks to fiend blocks, you know, getting greeted.

Speaker 1 (31:01):
He needs some tackles on the edge and run to
the edge, which tells you how engaged he Yeah, engage.

Speaker 2 (31:07):
I thought that the last two weeks, our defensive line
in general has really imposed their will on the on
the teams they both They faced the Cardinals and the
Browns yesterday, and.

Speaker 3 (31:18):
That's how it should be.

Speaker 2 (31:20):
Your offensive line and your defensive line needs to set
the tone and be the life lifeblood of your football team.
The offensive line has been They've been playing well all
season long. The last two weeks, the defensive line has
really imposed their will and set the tone for the
way and dictated the terms of the agreement, as I

(31:41):
like to say, of how how the game is gonna
be played, and it impacted Cleveland in a in a
mighty way.

Speaker 1 (31:48):
I'll give one more name too, because I think he
deserves some credit here as Fadarian mathis who not had
a ton of big plays since he's been here. Yesterday,
on the one where he deflected the ball, go rewatch
this He ran this guy over and threw him backwards
like three or four yards before he got his hands
up and made the play. He's coming on. You could
feel that he's buying into it, and I think it's

(32:10):
these moments him. No offense to them, but where they
stand on the roster, they are backups right on the
team him. Here's Diami waiting for moments gets it comes through.
Jeremy McNichols has scored three touchdowns in two weeks. He
had one in his career and it happened three weeks ago.
And this guy is making plays on special teams. He
had that crazy block against Cincinnati. They're feeding the ball,

(32:32):
he's running hard, the buying across the board. If numbers
forty five through fifty three are playing this way on
behalf of the team, you know you have something going here.

Speaker 2 (32:45):
You got something great going here, and I'll touch There's
two points I want to make when you say that.

Speaker 3 (32:52):
First and foremost, that's the coaches in terms of what
the standard that they have.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
A lot of people talk about having standards and setting
standards and all that, but do you hold people accountable
and are you constantly emphasizing the standards that you have
you mentioned for Darick Mathis going into this training camp,
he was like, is he gonna make the team.

Speaker 3 (33:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (33:22):
He showed up in training camp, played played some good football,
and I think the last few weeks like they've they've
litten the fire underneath him man to where he's playing
passionate football, making plays, having fun. You're seeing his personality,
You're seeing him out there kind of having a having
a great time. You mentioned the other guys, mc Nichols,

(33:43):
the Ivy Brown, all those guys are when their numbers call,
they're producing.

Speaker 3 (33:48):
That doesn't just happen on game day.

Speaker 2 (33:51):
It happens Monday, in film meeting, and in the film
room Wednesday, and practice Thursday, and practice Friday, practice especial,
the team meanings, to walk throughs, all those types of things.
Those things that we see on Sunday or a game
day are bride product of what happens throughout the week.

(34:12):
Another moment after the game against the Cardinals and coach
Quinn gave Cliff Kingsbury that game ball.

Speaker 1 (34:21):
This is what I took from that.

Speaker 2 (34:24):
I've had the great fortune of being on two Super
Bowl teams one and one and lost, and then some
other teams that were really really close and had some
you know, we've had some nice runs. Those teams the
best teams that I've been a part of. When we
talk about family and brotherhood and camaraderie and togetherness, I

(34:50):
saw that in that in that moment when he gave
that game ball to Cliff Kingsbury and the way the teams,
the teams responded to the players, the coaches responded, and
then also when Cliff said, what are you saying and
how the guys responded that to words, and I'm looking like, man,
they got some special.

Speaker 3 (35:11):
They have some special.

Speaker 2 (35:12):
I don't know it'll be a Super Bowl issue, but
I'm just I'm looking at like what they have that special?

Speaker 1 (35:19):
Well, let me ask you said you mentioned it like
so for the last couple of weeks, which goes back
to how real could this be? Because it's just it's
almost too good and it doesn't it's not logical because
it's unprecedented. And I'm going to read more in a
second stats that You're like, what in the world like
that it's happening this fast. I'm not kidding when I

(35:41):
say who is playing better than them in the NFL
right now? Name the team, like maybe Minnesota because they're undefeated,
right but name the team in the NFC that you
think is actually playing better than them right now. I
don't think if you're being honest about it and you
watch them play, I don't think you do that this year.
If I'm being blunt, I was hoping for a competitive
team because it's all new, that they instill this culture

(36:03):
that they're talking about, that Jaden looks the part and
improves as the season goes along and they play meaningful
games in December, and if they end up in the playoffs, great,
that'd be awesome. To not have a different expectations set
off of what they've done, specifically off for the last
few weeks, I think would be suspended disbelief. And at
this point, I know it's really early, but I'm not

(36:25):
sure what they can do this year. And I think
that's a good thing.

Speaker 2 (36:29):
That that is a great thing, And you know, I
think you would it would be fair to say, like
you mentioned, maybe a little bit ahead of schedule to
the maybe maybe, and it might not even be.

Speaker 1 (36:40):
This is a this is a movie, and they ended
up in this is a movie if it ends up
in it, and.

Speaker 2 (36:44):
That may only be to the to the outside world
or to the guys who even though we're in the building,
we're not in the meetings room with them, and those
guys on the practice field and they they they have it.
They may feel like, hey, we expected to play this way.
But what you've said and what you've described, I think,

(37:05):
especially when you look at the last two weeks or
last three weeks, even going into Cincinnati, when that when
that the schedule came out and you saw, hey, we're
going to Cincinnati Monday night football.

Speaker 3 (37:17):
If you're predicting wins.

Speaker 2 (37:18):
And losses, you probably predicted that as a as a loss,
just honestly.

Speaker 3 (37:23):
And then for them to.

Speaker 1 (37:24):
Go to the team that's been in the playoffs every
year all those games row and two, I went, oh boy, yeah, you.

Speaker 2 (37:30):
Know, like maybe going out here be competitive. But that
game in the last two weeks and the way the
offense is played and the way the defense played the
last two weeks, man, the expectations definitely have changed.

Speaker 3 (37:45):
You know.

Speaker 2 (37:45):
I feel like we're going to compete in every game
just because of the way the coaches demand and the
buying that the coaches that the players have on everything
that they go.

Speaker 1 (37:57):
I'll tell you too, like The other thing that's really
standing out is, you know, to be very easy to
get caught up in all this stuff, and like it
doesn't help when I sit here and go who's playing
better than you know? You know what I mean, I
understand all that, Like yeah, and I'm not. You know,
there's a million voices out there. Go watch ESPN today.
I mean, you're gonna send a million people saying how
great they are. Nickelodeon showed up here and slimed James
Daniels right like, they're calling him NFC rookie, of this

(38:18):
NFC rookie of that, they're giving him all the accolades.
All of a sudden, people are talking about them very differently.
It's so easy to get caught up in all of that.
And Dan Quinch talked openly last couple of weeks, don't
get on the roller coaster. Well, you know, so they
go out to Arizona after the Monday night game where
everybody's freaking out about how they played in the throw
that he made, and what do they do. They blow
out the Cardinals and play their best complete game of
the season and not close. And if you go, well,

(38:40):
that's the Cardinals and they're not very good. Really. They
just beat the forty nine ers yesterday. They boat raced
the Rams and they could have won in Buffalo, but
they were non competitive against this team. So how good
is this team? Right?

Speaker 2 (38:50):
And the Giants went out to Seattle and beat the
Seahawks right yesterday.

Speaker 1 (38:54):
So all of a sudden, the Giants who have won
like two of their last three. That doesn't look like
the same win that Washington got a few weeks ago
as well.

Speaker 3 (39:03):
No, not at all.

Speaker 2 (39:04):
And what I love too is when you look at it,
and I know we've talked a lot about Jaden, but
when you yesterday ended his press conference and also when
we interviewed him, he's happy we won the game, but
he knows he can play better and the offense can
be better, and there's so much more they call to,

(39:26):
haven't They left a lot of meat on the bomb?

Speaker 1 (39:28):
Yeah, so that that might agree with that too. That's
the craziest part. That we walked out of there going, well,
that wasn't their best performance? Exactly thirty four points later
in a twenty one point.

Speaker 3 (39:38):
Win, Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2 (39:40):
And that right there, despite all of the national media
attention that they've gotten, and it's going to get more.
They understand that we have to continue to get better,
continue to improve. Coach Quinn is emphasizing that, and I
don't think the players are going to get too far
ahead of them sales and start smelling them sales, so

(40:02):
to speak. They don't come in and continue to be
about the work. Continue to be about the work each
and every day, Respecting the opponent, regardless of who it is,
Respecting the preparation that it takes to win in the
National Football League, and respecting all the things that encompasses,
you know, going out there and playing your best football

(40:24):
game day.

Speaker 1 (40:25):
Let me talk about one more thing on the offense
before we get to Jaden and his performance, which is
their run game, because for the third time in five
games they've rushed for over two hundred yards in a game,
which is astonishing. It's an astonishing number. And especially last
week Cleveland, whose defense. I really respect the group that
they have off of what they came off of, the
group that they that they bring and how aggressive they play.

(40:45):
It's hard. But if you'd watched again, going back to
that Raiders game, so mere White was finding creases on them.
So there were some cracks that were starting to happen
to them. And here's another crazy historic stat. Washington has
scored three rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games, the first
time in franchise history, the second team in NFL history
to have at least three rushing touchdowns in four of
their first five games, joining the nineteen fifty four San

(41:09):
Francisco forty nine ers. We came out of camp. You
looked at the profile of the team, right, and you've
got Robinson and Eckler, and now we know McNichols is
a very good contributor there as well. And I looked
at their receivers and I go, this is not a
team that's probably going to throw the ball down the
field all that much. And they got a rookie quarterback.
I wouldn't be surprised if they actually run the ball
fifty to fifty. Really, if it's up to them, well,

(41:31):
that's one thing. It's another thing to do it as
effectively as they do it. So they're not only just
running the ball a lot. It's the timing of the calls.
It's the skill of the players. Eckler looks like he
is completely refreshed from three four years ago. Dynamic, the
quick cuts that he makes turning small plays into big plays.
His fourth down run was one of the key plays

(41:51):
of the game where he cut back on the edge
that was set to get it. Was a fourth and
two where he cut back against the edge and got it.
Their run game is just humming right now.

Speaker 3 (42:01):
They're humming.

Speaker 2 (42:02):
And you know, Anthony Linn was brought in as the
run game coordinator, former head coach of the Chargers, was
with the San Francisco forty nine Ers well the last
two years, and we know what that forty nine Ers
run game was like, and he's brought a lot of
that run scheme to Washington. It starts up front door
for me with the trenches the offensive line. In order

(42:24):
to be successful in the run game, you got to
move people an offensive line, they're moving people out of
the way. Tight ends are doing an excellent job of block.
And I mentioned the wide receivers b Rob although he
didn't have you know, major numbers yesterday in that ball game,
had the two rushing touchdowns. But his ability to find

(42:44):
and get through small creases get skinny. Even though he's
a bigger back, he has the ability to get skinny
with great foot great footwork. Eckler I mean, my goodness, man,
he has his his size, his his vision, all the
things he's done. And then you know Jeremy Nicholas, he's

(43:04):
been like you know, blessing in disguise. But it's a
it's a combination of everything. This scheme when you call
these plays the office of line moving people, in the
skill of the running backs who are who are carrying
the things out, and we got when you talk about
the running game, you can't you can't mention or forget
to mention.

Speaker 1 (43:23):
Number five, Jay eighty two on the ground exactly. He
had the huge third down thirty four yard run that
got him set up in the red zone again inside
the five. It's it's only that he can do it,
it's how he does it right, you know. It's these
free rushers come out of him. He gets buy him.
They brought six on the play that he threw to

(43:44):
Terry where he got on the outside, and actually that
was one of the first times I've seen him in
those situations actually keep his eyes up and throw the
ball down on the field. So it's like he's still
this AI quarterback. Information he gets the he just turns
out and then.

Speaker 2 (43:56):
That's going to open up so much more for him
in the running game and also open up more stuff
down field.

Speaker 1 (44:01):
Let's see Robertson only eighteen yards of the ground, two touchdowns,
Eckler sixty seven, McNichols forty four. He scored a touchdown,
Jayden eighty two. Thirty plus rush attempts in every game
this year. They had none of those last season. Forget
last season over two hundred yards, yeah, break up last
season over jordi of yards again, you know, three of
five games. If they're going to play defense to the
degree that they've played at the last two weeks and

(44:23):
they're going to run the ball like this again, you
need to reset your expectations. Why do Cincinnati have the
record they have. They don't run the ball very well
and they can't really stop the run. You know, like
it's a simple formula in this game that if you
overpower people and control the clock and don't turn the
ball over and then they can't make plays because there's
they're stuck in the second and eight second and ninees.

(44:43):
Guess what, It's a formula for winning. It's been tried
and true forever.

Speaker 3 (44:46):
Yeah. Yeah, And going into next week game against the Ravens,
and I know we the Ravens.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
They gave up what thirty eight points yesterday to the Bengals.
They're not playing, I guess to the level that they
normally played defensively. Haven't had a chance to study the Ravens,
you know, going into this game yet. But if we
can stay ahead of the chains, be able to run
the ball effectively. Now, I know they got Marlon Humphrey,

(45:14):
who's an our standing corner, and they got the safety
Kyle Hamilton who's outstanding. I don't know what else they
have on the back end. That may open up some
things in the passing game where we can we can
rent win some one on one matchups. Luke McCaffrey, he's
not playing like a rookie either. He's been he's been
doing some things, you know, to have the ability that
you know you can trust die me on downfit throws.

(45:36):
We know what Terry's gonna bring each and every day,
each and every game. But the ability to run the
ball effectively, it puts you in a lot of third
and shorts, third and uh, you know, mediums. And you
mentioned also the ability if if everything is covered up,
Jaden's ability to make something happen with.

Speaker 1 (45:55):
Him and you know, I want to say this too.
I mean, like Kingsbury, this was the first game where
they were stunted on first down a few times early
in the game. Rarely has that been the case. And
I think one of the humongous keys to the success
so far this year is Kingsbury has creatively gotten them
into these second and manageable situations where the playbook's just
opened to them. So I think he's played a key

(46:16):
role in all this too. Execution has been amazing, the blocking,
the running backs are bringing it, the blocking down field,
and Jaden, of course, I think is so far ahead
of the curve that it's hard to describe. He's kind
of rewriting a lot of the record books for rookie quarterbacks.
But I think Kingsbury deserves a lot of credit here too.
And as the game went along and the body language
of the brown started to change, they took advantage of it.

(46:37):
And that's what you're supposed to do, you.

Speaker 3 (46:39):
No, absolutely, I thought, I don't know if the Browns.

Speaker 2 (46:42):
Defense got tired, because it was just like they were
so frustrated that the offense wasn't doing things. And they
had to be frustrated because this is demoralizing as a defense.
Having played defense, when you feel like you have a
quarterback in your grasp, you got the right call, died
up and Jim Swartz, he died up the right call.

Speaker 3 (47:04):
So to speak.

Speaker 2 (47:04):
You get free runner, free rushers, and you think you
have Jaden dead the rice for a sack, and all
of a sudden, Superman comes out of the box.

Speaker 3 (47:15):
You know he's wearing number five.

Speaker 2 (47:17):
He's able to make you miss, get outside the pocket.
It's the big play to terry or have a thirty
four yard run or another run that converse first downs.
Those things demralize a defense because you had great coverage
on the back end.

Speaker 3 (47:34):
That's why he wasn't able to cover it. Throw the
football he had to.

Speaker 2 (47:39):
You got free runners, you've done everything right, and you
still don't wear that down.

Speaker 1 (47:45):
Yeah, there's nothing more to moralizing. It's early and I
hate to in comps, but like when people describe him like,
well he can run like Lamar hen or Field or
something like that, I don't think it's like that, Like
he's more accurate and dangerous to his arm than they
were at least in their career. Yeah, I'm old, So
the comps to me that when I see him, feels
very early John Elway to me, where it's it's very smooth.

(48:09):
He can really run, He'll kill you with his arm.
He's actually he can be very accurate too. Or Steve
Young feels a little bit like that too. Steve Young
felt a little more frenetic the way he played, but
similarly could really run the ball and throw the ball. Well.
He reminds me of a very young John Elway the
way that it's so smooth, the way he kind of
goes about it.

Speaker 3 (48:30):
Yeah, that's that's a great comparison.

Speaker 2 (48:32):
And by the way, I still don't like John Elway
because I grew up a Brows fan and lway he
destroyed us in multiple AFC Championship games, but he was
outstanding his ability to make plays.

Speaker 3 (48:46):
Great comparison I've gone against.

Speaker 2 (48:49):
I went against Michael Vick when he was when he
was a rookie, not nearly the thrower the football like like.

Speaker 1 (48:56):
Ja devastating speed.

Speaker 2 (49:00):
Yeah, yeah, I mean zero sixty like that. I can
see similarities. When they mentioned Lamar in terms of there's
times when you look at him run and you're like, oh,
that look that is Lamar Jackson.

Speaker 1 (49:12):
Le Jayden's definitely a better early in Yeah, passer than Lamar,
and Lamar has been turning into a better pastor, but
early in his career. I mean that was really the
knockout that he's an amazing runner, amazing athlete. But not
that accurate, really, no, not that accurate.

Speaker 3 (49:28):
I don't know what what Randall Cunningham.

Speaker 2 (49:31):
Was like, Yeah, early rookie, your first teching, your guy.
I know what he was, you know, as he got
a little bit more season, dangerous, dangerous guy. But you
know he might just be one of one. He just
you know, he's just Jaden Daniels. He's one of one.

Speaker 1 (49:46):
All Right, we're in the studio. They like to play
games here, so you're ready to play games. Play. We're
gonna pull this way. Let's call this one this or that?
This is I like that, all right, I'll give you
a few of them. Oh can you tell me if
it's this or that? I want to hear you too.
You got to give answer to that's fun. The defense
has arrived, commanders or Cleveland's offense is terrible? This or that?

(50:06):
Well both both, But I will.

Speaker 2 (50:10):
Say this, our defense I'm gonna lean more so on.
Our defense haven't arrived. Because you look at what they
did last week against the Cardinals, having what I think
four sacks in that game. Really, you know, the pass
rush coming to live defensive front, really imposing their wheels
wheel on the game. And as I said, dictating the

(50:33):
terms of the agreement. Our defense dictated the terms of
the agreement yesterday with the cleveand Browns, and it was
very one sided terms and the Browns had no choice
but to accept those terms. Out of Browns offense also
stinks too, so, but I think it's more of our
defense han't arrived.

Speaker 1 (50:53):
I don't think we've arrived yet. We don't have an
interception they claimed ball as life. Of all these points
at Washington scores, it's never on short fields. One time
yesterday on the punt return there's been no interception at
the twenty or fumble recovery and they get the short
field and they score. Washington's had to walk down the
field to do all these things and get the points.
So I don't think they've arrived yet. They're playing way way,

(51:15):
way better than they have for over the first last
two weeks compared to the first time last two weeks.
The last two weeks has been better, but I'm still
I'm waiting for what they talk about, which is ball
is life, and I haven't seen that part yet.

Speaker 3 (51:27):
Row they had seven sacks yesterday, hey, eleven and at last.

Speaker 1 (51:31):
I'm not complaining, But when you use the word arrive
and you set the benchmark for we're going to get
turnovers and you're not getting them, then you haven't arrived yet.
So that's where that's how I feel about it. And
I bet Deeke you and wit like me saying that
right now. I'm on their team about that one. Ah,
let's go to that played really well. When you hold
a team to thirty eight yards and a half, you're
doing something right. Yeah, Okay, Jaden is still missing the

(51:53):
open guys or the rookie is still growing here because
you had what you called it out on the one
he scrambled it wide open Terry mccaury should have been
a touchdown pass.

Speaker 2 (52:03):
I'm gonna go with the rookie still growing. There was
some and he'll he'll be better. I mentioned this the
more he plays. I know going into that game he
was completely eighty two percent of his passes. Those numbers,
you know, I don't know, they didn't they didn't stay
it to that level, even with the percentage not being that.

(52:25):
I think the more games he plays, the better he
will become because of the experiences he has the experience
of yesterday against the Cleveland Browns and that type of
defense where he felt I felt he was a little
sped up, maybe a little unsettled early. You know, he
missed a couple I thought open receivers he had that,
he missed the urge down the middle. Yeah, he missed

(52:46):
I thought ersing in the end zone for a touchdown,
inaccurate throw. But he's going to continue to get better
and fak folks, we got to understand this. He's only
played five games, so he's still the rookie, is still growing.

Speaker 1 (53:02):
That's that's why I described him as AI. They just
put more information in him and he improves every single time.
So where's it gonna He's chat GVT, Where's it going
to go?

Speaker 3 (53:11):
Right?

Speaker 1 (53:11):
Where's it gonna go from here? I'm gonna go with
He's just still growing. That's what I think. And to
your point, it just it's five games. People seem to
forget this part. He's playing better than any rooky quarterback
I've literally ever seen. But it still doesn't mean there's
a lot of room to grow. And I think yesterday
was one of the first times that he actually missed
a couple of throws that he probably wants back. I
will say this though about him, and this is the

(53:31):
part that I'm really, really really excited about. How many
times does he put the ball in danger. He's extremely
protective of it. He had one bad throw in Arizona
that got picked off. He had a second one there
that I think they caught him a little bit and
it was inaccurate and it was a miss, but it
wasn't really close to being picked I mean, he's had
one interception in five games because he doesn't put the
ball in harm's way.

Speaker 3 (53:53):
He had the one yesterday, Oh.

Speaker 1 (53:54):
Right, right, right right, Yeah to two and five games.
That was a bad throw. Ko came in a nice
play day. I don't want take any away from he
made a very nice play that that was a bad
throw miss ditch on a touchdown could ad mcloony a
touched up. So there's room to grow obviously here. But
in general, his decision making on the whole, for the
large part is way ahead of the curve. And that's
what I really and that's why I stick with he's growing.

Speaker 2 (54:15):
Think about this, with the exception of the first quarter.
First quarter side, I thought Jane was outstanding. Yes, I
mean he had several remarkable throws. One of the best
throws he had was there was a comeback that he
threw a deep comeback to Terry on the sideline and
he threw that ball before Terry was out of his break.

Speaker 3 (54:37):
Perfect throw. I mean, it wasn't a touchdown play.

Speaker 2 (54:41):
Or one that's going to make the Sports Center highlight,
but I'm sure when the coaches talk about that throw
that he made, that was a big time throw.

Speaker 1 (54:50):
All right, last one. This is who they are. They're
good or it's going to come back to earth. I think.

Speaker 2 (55:00):
This is who they are with the caveata and I said,
even being four and one right now, they know they
can play better. They know that they can play better
football and every facet.

Speaker 3 (55:20):
So I believe this is who they are. I do too.

Speaker 1 (55:24):
I thought after the Cincinnati game that this is the
beginning that we saw the first big moment of the beginning.
I don't know what it is, but it's the beginning
of something. I wanted to see what would happen the
next week, and they turn around and they play better,
and they play their best complimentary performance across the board
that I've seen them play in a long time. Just

(55:44):
in general, this team to play this way, turn around,
come home. Everybody's all pumped up around here. The last
time we had a game like this where they asked
the crowd to show up and expected to win was
a Sunday night game against the Giants, and they laid
a dud. That was they couldn't score any points. There
was a couple of bad call at the end of
the game. Aclory got called for an off side you'll
remember that I shouldn't have been called, and then Curtis
Sama got mugged in the endzine. They didn't throw a flag.

(56:06):
But this was the first time we've asked everybody show up,
get on board with this thing, and they delivered. Yes,
this now is new normal. How good is it going
to be? I don't know, but I am very confident
that it's not going back in a different direction. Like,
are they the type of team that's going to ascend
that quickly to head into New Orleans this February. I

(56:27):
don't know about that, but I don't feel like that
this is an aberration anymore, and I think I've seen
too much with too much growth to go to think
it's going backwards. I think we're in a new normal
and we all need to get accustomed to it.

Speaker 3 (56:41):
That's it.

Speaker 1 (56:42):
I totally agree, man, Yeah, all right, which leads me
into I want to do your heavyweight championship belt in
a moment, because I do think that this is our
first big game of this new era. Now, the Cincinnati
one may or may not have been perceived that way.
It's Monday night up there. Cincinnati typically has a very good,

(57:03):
you know, very good team with Burrow, and they'd gotten
Higgins back and all that. But I don't think anybody
knew we weren't in the new normal yet. We need
to prove some things. This first big game that they're having,
spotlight game. Everybody's gonna paying attention to it. People know
how good Baltimore is. They do it every single year.
To matchup of quarterbacks. That's going to bring a lot
of attention. We're gonna get some national media here this week.

Speaker 3 (57:24):
We do you think?

Speaker 2 (57:26):
I tell you what, man, I feel like I'm getting
ready to call a big game.

Speaker 3 (57:31):
I don't know it is.

Speaker 2 (57:32):
I don't know if you've got there yet, but I'm
anticipating Saturday rolling into Baltimore.

Speaker 3 (57:38):
This is this is this right here. It's true.

Speaker 2 (57:41):
It's a litmus test early in the season, and I'm
sure we'll have many more. But when you understand historically
what Baltimore, what the Baltimore Ravens are.

Speaker 3 (57:54):
They're one of the.

Speaker 2 (57:55):
Top teams in the NFL year in a year out
coach Harball, John har He's you know, been one of
the best coaches year in the year out Lamar Jackson,
two time MVP RAN and MVP.

Speaker 3 (58:09):
It's going to be a challenge.

Speaker 1 (58:10):
And to your point about how you know who wins
the line of scrimmage, that team on offense typically wins
it exactly. This is going to be a very interesting
telling test against that rush offense this weekend.

Speaker 3 (58:23):
And not only that.

Speaker 2 (58:23):
So they won a game yesterday, but defensively they gave
up thirty eight points. I know how things happen in
a defensive meeting room when you haven't played up to
your expectations. The emphasis on correcting the things you didn't
do well, and the attention greater attention to detail. I

(58:45):
don't know how they tackle all the different things that
they didn't do well defensively, They're going to emphasize old
things a lot in their practice week. There's a lot
of their meetings, So the defense, I expect them to
be ready to play a lot better game the Ravens defense.
So it's going to be a challenge, but I'm looking
forward to it because I feel like coach Quinn is

(59:06):
gonna have his guys ready to go out and play
their best football as well.

Speaker 3 (59:11):
So let's see what happens. Man, you talk about heavyweight fight.

Speaker 1 (59:15):
Hey it is, let's ding ding ding.

Speaker 3 (59:17):
Let's let's get it on.

Speaker 1 (59:18):
And back to the point of who's playing better than
them right now? And make an argument that anybody's playing
better than Washington right now, and go look and see
how they're installed, how big of an underdog they're installed, because.

Speaker 3 (59:27):
That's why it was like seven points already.

Speaker 1 (59:30):
Yeah yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (59:31):
I mean personally, players, not a lot of players play
a whole lot of attention that. I've had some coaches
who kind of use that as a motivation, especially if
we're like at home and we're an underdog.

Speaker 3 (59:45):
Hey man, they got us as an underdog here. But
as players, we don't pay a whole lot of attention
to that.

Speaker 2 (59:51):
That's not gonna make me go out and play harder.
I'm gonna play hard just because this is what I do.
So you know how much they're paying attention to the
underdog factor. That's good for the betting world and all that,
But I know they're gonna be ready to play their
best football because of coach Quinn and the coaching staff

(01:00:11):
and understanding that the opponent and who they are and
playing in that environment, They'll be ready to play regardless
of what the what the point spread is.

Speaker 1 (01:00:21):
Real quick, you played linebacker, what would you say to
the people who have to tackle Derrick Henry this weekend?

Speaker 3 (01:00:28):
A double chance strap game? Buckle up.

Speaker 2 (01:00:31):
You know you got to get him before he gets going.
The defensive line, the linebacks, you gotta get him before
he gets going. And then also there's gonna be times
where the cornerbacks are gonna have to be live and
willing tacklers.

Speaker 3 (01:00:46):
That's just the way it is.

Speaker 2 (01:00:47):
There's gonna be times where he gets to that second level,
whether you're safety or your cornerback, and they force you
to be the guys fitting in the run. You have
to go out be don't hesitate, don't win, don't retreat.
You gotta take it to him, because a big guy
like that, that's the worst thing you want to do
is kind of be retreating. You gotta you gotta be

(01:01:07):
aggressive and go at him.

Speaker 1 (01:01:08):
He gets go, he's gonna run you over like a truck.

Speaker 3 (01:01:10):
Yeah you got, you got.

Speaker 2 (01:01:11):
Even if he makes it, when he makes it to
the second level for you, if he breaks it, you know,
a long run, you still have to be aggressive in
your pursuit of aggressive in your tackle attempt against him.

Speaker 1 (01:01:23):
All right, Time to bring out Big Fletches Heavyweight Commander
belt goes to the play or player of the game,
your choice.

Speaker 2 (01:01:33):
This is the debut of Big Fletches Heavyweight Championship Bell. Now,
if y'all don't know who Big Fletch is, Big Fletch is.

Speaker 1 (01:01:42):
I I had.

Speaker 2 (01:01:44):
To go back to, you know, I gotta get back
to Big Fletch, all right. The first recipient a Big
Fletcher's Championship Bell, you know, me being me having played
live backer bro I think is only fitting that I
give this belt to the first recipient, Frankie lo.

Speaker 1 (01:02:08):
Vu.

Speaker 2 (01:02:09):
Frankie Louvu was an absolute animal in that game against
the Cleveland Browns two and a half sacks, three tackles
were lost, fumble recovery, had the big fourth down stop
on fourth and one early on the Browns.

Speaker 3 (01:02:26):
First player of the game, first series of the game.

Speaker 2 (01:02:29):
It had a number of impactful plays that just it
might not even made the stat sheet, but just his impact,
his intensity, his physicality, there's nobody who would question me
giving Frankie Louv the Big Fletcher's Heavyweight Championship belt.

Speaker 1 (01:02:48):
That's my guy, first player since Ryan Kerrigan four years ago.
Two sacks and a fumble recovery in the same game.
His energy is unbelievable, absolutely unbelievab and a worthy recipient
of the belt.

Speaker 2 (01:03:03):
We'll present this belt to well, we won't presented to
them because we're gonna need this for next week's show
or we go to but you know, we'll send him
a letter or something to let him know he won
this belt.

Speaker 1 (01:03:14):
I can't wait for next week. We haven't had something
like this in a while. Feels like a real big game,
show me moment off of the team on the rise.
Oh yeah, it's beil.

Speaker 3 (01:03:27):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I don't know you.

Speaker 2 (01:03:30):
Last year you went down to watch the joint practices
with the Ravens or I don't know if.

Speaker 1 (01:03:35):
You that's a long story. Listen.

Speaker 2 (01:03:40):
Yeah, so I was at those practices and it was
intention I don't know if you you remember last year, well,
I know you remember the preseason game from last year.
There's already a h it's a it's a bit of rivalry,
the Beltway Battle and all that.

Speaker 3 (01:03:53):
The battle.

Speaker 1 (01:03:53):
We had a game with the Ravens that kind of
had this much on the line, not probably ever, probably
ever ever, but it's going to be physical.

Speaker 3 (01:04:02):
All right.

Speaker 1 (01:04:02):
I can't wait. I can't see you there Sunday, see
you back here next week. That'll do it for the Booths.

Speaker 3 (01:04:07):
Re deal