September 12, 2025 • 40 mins
Hour 2 of the show is dominated by a TMac discussion as well as a great interview with Charlotte 49'ers Head Coach, Tim Albin.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Bonkers.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
We're starting off club at the one o'clock hour, No
Rules Friday, a Football Friday weston Walker Sports Radio ninety
two to seven WFNZ. We're broadcasting live from the Chandler
Volta Studio. CV Injury Law dot Com, CV Injurylot dot Com.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
One call.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
That's all the Carolinas personal injury lawyers. Do you listen
to this type of music during the weekend jam and
watching Kansas State football?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Why is it always Kansas State?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
It is you catches the strays of you making fun
of me not having a weekend life when I'm watching
you just Big twelve football.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
You're a wildcat that loves Wildcats. Baby Cannas State football.
It's must see television. Sorry, I got room for dating
in my life. I gotta watch what they're doing down
of Manhattan.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Well, the joke's on you, because they played a night
and I gotta call a high school football game tonight.
I won't be watching my beloved Wildcats play and tomorrow
and I'll be driving back from Chapel Hill, so I'll
have the quad box on my phone on the YouTube
TV app as I drive back. I expect nothing less.
This is not the music that I listened to. When
I actually have time to listen to.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Music, I'd be laughing.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I am laughing right now picturing you doing the head
bobbing stuff to this song. It just fits, man. I
would love to see that. I'm ready to talk about
some wide receivers because you know me, it's my favorite
position on the football field. Wes is not here to
make me feel guilty of just shooting the potential of
t MAC all the way to the moon. And so
I'm going to celebrate what TMAC did in week one
and experience all the confirmation bias. I'm only I don't
(01:40):
even know how slightly kidding I am when I look
at the.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
T mac on pace stats.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Okay, and I said this yesterday, and most people will
tell you this dude is on pace for blank as
a joke so early in the season. And I am
here for all the jokes. I am here for all
the he's on pace, which when the guy hit five
home runs in the first two games and they say
this guy's on pace for thousands and thousands of home runs,
(02:06):
I'm here for those jokes. But t MAC right now
is on pace for eighty five receptions, eleven hundred and
fifty six receiving yards, thirteen point six average yards per reception,
and six touchdowns. I say that again to say that
it seems pretty attainable to me. I am using that
as something realistic. I feel like Temac could reach. And
(02:29):
I'm not making a joke out of it, because if
he got nine targets in Game one, with Jalen Koker
out for at least a month, with nobody else demanding
passes be thrown their way, are we talking about the
best receiving season from a rookie in Carolina Panthers history,
(02:50):
right here in front of our very eyes. I think
there's potential for that. If you look at any of
the NFL pundits out there nationally, they tell you the
own bright spot for Carolina's offense in this game, it
was that guy. It was t Mac as a top
ten selection, immediately giving you return on investment. I look
at some of the best rookie receiving seasons of all time.
(03:13):
Pokinakua has the record at fourteen eighty six. Bill Groman
nineteen sixty gave you fourteen seventy three. Jamar Chase gave
you fourteen fifty five. If you want to get a
little closer to this decade. Lad McConkey eleven forty nine
is the thirteenth leading rookie receiver ever. Malik Neighbors is
(03:35):
number ten at twelve hundred. I just I see those
numbers and Fitty, I can't help but let out my
excitement because I feel like they're attainable, especially in a
seventeen game season, which matters when we're talking about what
tam Mac could achieve. But there's not another receiver that
demands targets. Adam Thielen isn't here anymore. Bryce Young threw
(03:56):
to t Mac all preseason long. He threw to him
during joint practices, and every question we had when Fland
was still on the roster and Coker was healthy. By
the way, was this just a matchup thing that was
going on in joint practices in the preseason or was
this something we could expect once we get to the
regular season.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
And we got it.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I think you're in store right here, right now for
the best Panthers rookie receiving season that we've ever seen.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah, I think is very much on the table.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
He puts up those numbers and we got to maybe
update those after a month to see what he's on
pace for. He'll be in the conversation to be the
offensive rookie of the year as well for the National
Football League. More importantly, I think he justifies me in
that top ten draft selection when everyone and their mother
thought they were drafted in defense, because they quite literally
told you at the combine we got a draft defensive players.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
It's I always thought.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
His numbers were gonna be higher than what was projected
when Philand was still on the roster, just because every
time that they were together in practice Walker, that's not
Bryce was throwing a team at Yeah, he wasn't throwing
to Thiland. It was Tmac over and over and over again.
And I don't think it was by accident or by
design that we're trying to get an evaluation get him
(05:10):
up to speed. I think that's just how comfortable he
was throwing the football to him. And so, you know,
it's really exciting to see him with so many detractors
after being drafted on draft night, and I was one
of them. Within the immediacy of the draft, I did
not like the draft selection. By the time I went
to bed and woke up, I understood the draft pick,
but it felt like after an offseason, a preseason, and
(05:32):
one game end that top ten draft selection feels validated
for Dan Morgan.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
It does to me too, by the way, people are
asking why he's on pace for six touchdowns for seventeen
would equal zero. Yeah, you're looking at red zone targets.
You're looking at the likelihood of some of those red
zone targets turning in to touchdowns. I don't know what
the exact formula is. I promise you if you want
to go with sixty eight times seventeen, it equals eleven
fifty six. The other ones are directly a product of
(05:59):
exactly what they did in Week one with the six touchdowns.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I get it.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Ky Tow Mafia saying, Walker, you're way too hopeful. If
iMac starts showing up to be the most consistent and
valuable wide receiver, teams will focus on him to force
Bryce to use other wide receivers to beat them and
got some games, says Slim. You forgot about Pooka. No,
I said Puoka was the record holder, So no hookahs
up there at fourteen almost fifteen hundred, fourteen eighty six.
(06:23):
This is how I feel about him. I know that
there is some confirmation bias here, liking the pick, liking
what he was as a product. But I see him
be smooth in and out of his breaks. I see
him creating separation. I believe if you go to the
separation tracking data, he was like top thirty in terms
of most space between him and the nearest defender. Like
I'm ready, baby, I'm ready to go on the TMAC train.
(06:44):
I'm ready to hit for him to achieve some awesome
stuff in his rookie year. Tim Albin, Charlotte forty nine
Ers head football coach, going to be joining us at
one point fifteen, just five minutes from now. Don't go anywhere,
He'll join us in just a moment. On Sports Radio
ninety two to seven WFZ Weston walker Back Sports Radio
(07:16):
ninety two to seven WFNZ, there's the Charlotte forty nine
Ers fight song about to welcome coach Tim Albin to
the guest line, discussing it oh one and two starred
and the rest of the schedule ahead. What he thinks
his team has improved the most on over the past
couple of games. What he hopes to continue to improve on,
the quarterback situation, All of it hope.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
To have him on in just a moment again.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
We're broadcasting live from the Chandler vaulta studio CV Injury
Law dot com, CV Injury Law dot Com.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
One call.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
That's all the Carolinas personal injury lawyers. And I'm hoping
Charlotte doesn't have to experience any more injuries. I know
Henry Rutledge, my guy, like my favorite player on the
team for quite some time, been there for a while.
I'm hoping that he is healthy enough to come back
sooner rather than lay. We'll get a status check on
him and we'll just get a status check overall on
(08:04):
how the forty nine ers can get their first win.
This weekend, they'll play Monmouth, which is an FCS opponent,
but not your typical FCS opponent. This is a powerhouse
at that level. They're a top ranked team and it's
not going to be the easiest of games, but it's
still a game that we're hoping Charlotte can take care of.
And look, if Tim Albin comes in and beats app
(08:27):
State right away, then yeah, it's the best win that
we've had in our program's history, no doubt about it. Here,
I am using we I think it's probably okay if
you're an alum. But of course I didn't suit up
and get destroyed by app State, and I'm hoping that
we don't do that again. But if they would have
won against the Mountaineers, it would have been the most
important game, it would have been the best win. That
clearly didn't happen. Same thing against North Carolina. They did
(08:49):
get better. But Tim albin is starting a project here
out of scratch, and you saw that in Ohio, where
Ohio had a history before him. But what you did see,
at least at Ohio the first year was a losing record,
and then right after that first season, I mean that's
when things really started to take off. He was really
(09:10):
impressive the rest of the way, and I expect that
to happen here. I just think I'm hoping at least
that Charlotte can capitalize on the resources they have given
to them, that they've earned as well, and by year two,
by year three, we just see improvement. I don't think
that Charlotte forty nine ers fans have this unrealistic expectation
(09:33):
about what we should be right here right now. In
Tim Albens first year, I'm just hoping that you get
to see some improvement. However, many games they win or
don't win this year, can you give me three more
the next season? Something like that. Can we have a
better passing game. Can we see a more consistent moving
(09:53):
of the football than stopping the opponent offense. That's what
I'm hoping for, is really just improvement, because that's ultimately
what led to Biff Poge's firing, and that's ultimately what
led to Will Healey's firing.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Also.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Will Healey comes in and raises expectations pretty quickly by
going to a bowl game his first every year, but
again that was with Brad Lambert's prospects and his draft,
his excuse me, his recruits, and after that we didn't
go bowling again under Will Healey and he had plenty
of time. And again with Biff Poggi, you knew it
was going to be a wild risk, but outside of
(10:26):
ECU it looked pretty bad both years. Just improvement, man,
that's what you're wanting to see in Tim Albin's second season.
Hopefully we can hear it straight from the horse's mouth
if he'll join us within the next five, ten, fifteen
minutes or so. Until then, we'll switch gears and talk
a little more Carolina Panthers football on westn Walker Sports
Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. We'll read some of these
(10:49):
text messages we have coming in on Temac. Where we
think his floor is, where we think his ceiling is,
and all of it. Because I'm ready to take off, baby,
I'm ready for t Mac to give us the best
rookie receiving season in franchise history. Seven oh four five
seven oh ninety six ten. That's the fandal text line
ky Town Mafia. We talked about his text. He says, Walker,
I think you're a little too hopeful. Justin says, the
(11:12):
only way t Mac doesn't have huge numbers is if
Bryce falls off a cliff and we're playing the third
string quarterback and then the passing game is just non existent.
Otherwise team AC should e seven oh four five seven oh.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Ninety six ten.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
If you want to get in on that conversation, Yeah,
I think t Mac will eat. I just think he's
gonna be a target monster, and I know there are
gonna be excuses. I'll be the first one to throw
him his way to bracket coverage. He's the only target
worth covering at all. We're just gonna leave everybody else
on an island. We're gonna leave everybody else over there
(11:47):
for the second corner to cover. And t mac is
gonna be somebody that just eats off of that, like
I or we're gonna cover him and focus on him
the most. So I get it. But good receiver can
rise above that quite a bit. And the fifty to
fifty balls for him. He had two contested catches against
Travis Hunter, against Tyson Campbell, like it didn't really matter
(12:08):
who was on him. It just felt like he was
going to win those matchups. And the only quote unquote
drop he had not recorded, but the one that he
said that he dropped was a one handed stab in
the end zone where the guy was draped all over him.
Like I like that, he's taking accountability. But I don't
look at that as a drop really at all. And
so yeah, I'm ready to take off with the potential
(12:28):
for the top ten pick out of Arizona. All right,
we'll go to the guest line now. Tim Alvin Charlotte
forty nine ers head football coach joins us to talk
about the first two games of the season and this
upcoming matchup against Monmouth at home, coach. Great to hear
from you again. Man, how are you doing, Walker?
Speaker 5 (12:44):
How are you? I appreciate you having me on. Sorry
I was a little I was a few minutes late
there with ESPN, they had a lot of questions, what is.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Esp particularly good?
Speaker 1 (12:53):
What were you talking.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
About about the offenses? Offensive stuff? For sure?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, and I figured going against North Carolina as well,
Like maybe after the fact, how much national attention did
you have on you this past week, coach? Like was
it more than you've ever had because of the matchup
against North Carolina and Bill Belichick?
Speaker 5 (13:12):
Yeah? Again, to be honest with you, I didn't. I
mean there's a lot of I guess stuff on social
media and talk about it, you know, And I got
some pretty funny things from a lot of my high
school buddies back home, you know, on it, you know.
But but you know, I mean personally in our sid
Joe did a great job, and it didn't. It wasn't
a distraction for me, you know, unless enough if I
(13:35):
get on my phone and start reading everything. And I'm
sure it could be, but you're so busy, you know.
But I know my I know, my my family and kids.
Surely certainly enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Well, yeah, so what were your expectations going into that
matchup against what many people believe to be, I don't know,
the best football coach of all time? And what was
it like during the game and after, Like, how did
that experience change for you compared to what your anticipation
was heading into it.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
Well, obviously, the expectation and went to win the game.
We had our chances to walker to make it a game,
you know, we had a chance to you know, maybe
maybe pie or be it for sure make it a
one score game and didn't and didn't finish drives and
and you know, it was obviously a very an unbelievable
game they experienced with the crowd, which I just see
(14:23):
the people and sold out. That's great. Well then, but
then I get home to my family the next morning
and had a chance to talk about all this stuff
and the game they experienced just you know, in the
stands was over the moon from according to my family,
who's been to a lot of college games in their
in their career, a lot of bowl games, and it
was like off the chart.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
So my heart hurts for our for.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Niner Nation and our team heart. Their heart hurts because
they want to get They wanted to win both of
those games. Is n state school in state schools that
were playing and couldn't get it done, And uh so
we wanted to win a game and didn't, So we
have to rebound and go on to the next one.
As you know, hey, this this group comes to town.
I'm sure you'll ask. I'm sure we'll get there, but
(15:04):
we're gonna have to play our best game, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Charlot forty Niners head football coach Tim Albin joining us
here on WESN Walker Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ. Coach,
I'm curious you only scored three points, but I think
everybody understands that watched that game that you guys were
better compared to what you showed against app State. You
drove the ball a little bit downfield, you had some
missed opportunities in the red zone. Defensively, you held Carolina
to just seventeen points. Do you look at this game
(15:28):
in week two and say I'm happy that we got
better or are you frustrated with some of the missed
opportunities in the red zone? Like which which way are
you leaning more towards.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Yeah, I mean you get to be, you know, a
true coach. You got to embrace the positives, and you
got to be you know, you gotta have financewers for
why you didn't finish drives. I mean, from from a
staff standpoint, particularly on offense, we went back and watched
watched the drives. You know, look at drive starters. You
know what's lacking? Is it to play call? Is it
(16:00):
we just physically got mismatched? Was it a mistake? You know?
And you know you're just you're constantly trying to figure
out to put yourself in position to finished drives right.
And then defensively, there's there's a lot of positives. They
got a huge test this week. But you can't just
you can't have rose colored glasses. You got to go
(16:23):
in there with the right mindset. It's got to be
it's got it's got to be a learning mindset. And
and then what's your eleven? You know, your your best eleven,
not your eleven best, but your best you know your
you want you want your who is the best eleven
guys out there at one time? And so we've been
(16:43):
all over the place of the staff as far as
trying to find answers. We're gonna see tomorrow night if
if we got any because we got a huge we've
got a huge challenge.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, you mentioned trying to find your best eleven at
this point in the season. How much closer do you
think you are at as at finding that best eleven
you speakuse.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Yeah, that's a fair question, walker, right, you know, and
I'm not this is not non whining. But we've got
we've got the normal week to bumps and bruises. You know,
we've got some guys out that we're gonna have to
fill in. Uh, you know, it's but we got we
have to have the next man up mentality. Our energy
has been good. Our team is not splintering. It's not
(17:21):
you know, they're disappointed with the school board and I
and I'm trying to do the nick saban. Hey, it's
the process, it's the next play. And it can't be
we can't just.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Focus on this on the outcome all the time.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
You know, there's a process to it. And that's where
I spent my time as a head coach, trying to
get those guys to understand and relying on my leaders
or I'm lying relying on our gate keepers of the
you know, of the locker room and our gold standard
and our in our character, and that's where I'm pouring.
We're pouring into these guys's hearts and hopefully we can
(17:53):
continue to make improvements for our fan base.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Yeah, you mentioned player leaders and your gatekeepers. We hear
this all the time in the NFL, and makes sense
because they're technically professionals. But is that still true wanting
to be player led somehow in college football? And if so,
who are some of those gate keepers you speak of?
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Yeah, that's you got to have him. I mean, you know,
irbt Meyer would aways to say, you know, hey, you
know coach led teams and you can win seven eight games,
you know, but the ones that are really special, you know,
all those player led ones. And I'm a true believer
in that. All right, And so are you know the
you know, the deputies or whatever the gatekeepers I said,
(18:31):
you know, you asked for specific, specific names, and you
know some of the useful suspects. I mean, Reid Williford,
Shay Taynor on defense, JQ Conley Tree, I mean there's
several Jayalen Johnson offensively, Johnny King comes to mind. He
looks like he's going to be out tomorrow. You know,
he's gonna be out for a couple of weeks. But
he's still here every day doing his rehabit. He's he's
(18:54):
a great leader. Connor Harrold quarterback, uh and I think
he was one of the highest go getters, you know
for our four team captain. You know, there's there's guys
stepping up, but we already it's it's new, it's a
new staff, and so the staff's got their ear to
the railroadrant railroad tracks on trying to help these guys
(19:14):
because they again outcome based our fan base wants to
win so bad. We haven't got it done. They feel
like they're letting them down, and we can't have that
mindset right now. We've just got to focus on let's
get better.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Charlon forty Niners head football coach Tim Albin joining us
on Weston Walker. You're listening to Sports Radio ninety two
to seven WFNZ. I want to talk more about Connor Harold.
You mentioned that he was going to be the starter
heading into this weekend's matchup against Monmouth. How have you
seen him improve from week one to week two and
so on?
Speaker 5 (19:45):
I think he's he's has gotten better. He's better week
than he was week one, and we need from to
take another jump this week. We got to help him
with run game. I mean, you know what, the quarterback
needs to be able to just turn around a hand
the ball off and and take take a little catch
his breath right and and uh, we haven't really been
(20:05):
consistent enough for him to be able to do that,
but he is again progressing with the offense. The thing
I really love about about Connor is he's not afraid
to be the guy that makes the play to win
the game, and he's not afraid to be the guy
that makes the that doesn't make the play that loses
the game. He I mean, he is That's what you
(20:27):
want as a leader and as a as a playmaker.
If they're if they're worried about I don't want.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
To be the guy that wins it or I don't
want to be the.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Guy that loses it, then they're always in the middle
and their average and Connor, you know, I mean, he
threw a pick the last you know, the last series
in the first half against against the that state, Okay,
and they got a field goal, and hey, he threw
kind of back across his body. Well, just what the
next week against North Carolina, same thing to is right,
(20:55):
throw it.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Back across his body and we had you know, it's
been a.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Good catch, but we didn't get we did we didn't
make to catch. But he he he wasn't scared to
make the try to make the throw again, you know.
And that is encouraging to me, you know, because he
he's not he doesn't care about being the goat.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
You know, or you know, or the goat I mean,
And so that's encouraging.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
That's encouraging to me.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Connor Harrell, also an athletic quarterback, really can run the
football well. Hasn't garnered a lot of rushing yards in
the first two games. Is that something that you want
to try to deploy a little more as the season
goes on, or is that just a product of how
the game had been going period over the first two games.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
That's a great question. I want to say right now
that you've you've been you've been up in the office
hanging around, because that's that has been that I've been
asked that I've asked that question to our offensive staff.
But no, uh uh. He's a guy that can create
with his feet, he can extend plays, and we've got
to use him in the run game a little bit.
And now I will say, we called plays against North Carolina,
and I'm on record is saying that there they are.
(21:55):
They're defensive. Vans are their surf their surfers, they surf.
And so his read is to hand it off, you know,
or pull the ball to the flat, you know. So
but we've got to get him involved in the run
game a little bit more than what we're doing. We
do not want. I don't want a quarterback that's carrying
the ball double digit numbers. I don't want that. I
want he's a quarterback. Now, I want him carrying the
(22:17):
ball seven to nine times a game. And then if
he pulls it down on the scrambles a couple of times,
now you're an eleven carries. That's to me, that's a
good number, all right. But but at the end of
the day, we're going to call the plays that we
need to call to win the game. And so I'm trying.
I'm kind of on the fence, but I agree with
(22:37):
what your question is about. We can utilize him a
little bit more, but we just got to do it
in a smartly sense.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah, no, it does make sense. Coach Tim Alben Charlot
forty nine ers head football coach, joining us on Western
Walker Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ. Do you
want to talk about a standout performer in this last
matchup against Carolina? How about Javon Nicholas Eleven receptions one
hundred and twenty two yards allowed him to get going
so well against the tar Heels.
Speaker 5 (23:03):
Yeah, I mean we're obviously very excited about that, and
I mean he's electric. He's our return guy too, and
he was actually against that state. He was a split
in time between Jade and the gallon who's we lost
for the year. Yeah, he had survey yesterday. Bless his heart,
you know, and then Javon was the full time starter
(23:23):
and that's where the ball went to. You know, we're
gonna have to spread it in a round.
Speaker 6 (23:26):
I mean, he'll he'll be after eleven catchers or.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
Whatever it was that you said. He's going to be
drawn some attention, so we'll we'll have to use that
to our advantage the best that we can.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
But as an offense, we continue, we've got.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
To build some things around him because he's got breakaway speed,
and you know, coming off eleven catch game, we've got
to continue to get him in a flow of things
as well.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Coach, you mentioned the run game being a priority, trying
to improve that heading into Mondmouth. Only twenty one rushing
yards against North Carolina? Is that being better in the trenches?
Is that being better all around? Like what specifically do
you point to and say, Okay, if we improve there,
then the running game overall is going to improve.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Yeah, the number is what the I mean the stats.
You are what your stats say. You are builb ourselves.
You know you are what your record is, right, and
if we can eliminate four beat snaps, Okay, that number
is not twenty one Hill Herds, So that let's start
with that, all right. I mean, we got some things done,
but it was it was we got to get some
more explosives. I mean, I mean they popped the run
(24:25):
in the second quarter. I think, you know, which is
the bulk of their rush yards. You know, we need
to we need to I think our longest run maybe
twelve or something, twelve yards. I think we got we
gotta we got to get that number up. We've got
to find some explosives in the run. Game. We have
shown signs from first game the second game about being
able to drive the ball, you know where everybody knows
(24:45):
we've got to finish drives with points. We know that,
but but specifically about the run game. We've had some
musical shares up front. As I said, Johnny's going to
be out. I think we've got our best best five
up there, and now we've got to go out there
and do it.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Coach Tim Albin joining us here on Western Walker. Final
thing for me, Coach, I really do appreciate your time.
What's something you've learned about coaching at Charlotte since you've
had your first two games on the schedule over and
done with. Is there something that you didn't anticipate that
you've experienced over the last couple of weeks. Is it
basically what you expected? What's something you've learned?
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Yeah, I tell you what. I love our fan base. Man.
They are passionate. You can keep all the social keep
it coming good or bad. I don't care, because I
mean that means they're passionate. You don't the plate, you
don't have the plays all. I get it. I'll bring
it on, I'll defight it all. But I love our
fan base. It's inspiring to me. They want they want
(25:41):
this thing to be successful, and that is you know.
I knew that they had great fans and I you
know from what I've heard, but man, our fan base
were over the moon, and so that's really inspiring for
me come to the office. I love what I do,
but I want to get this thing going for them.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Tim Albyn joining us here on Wes and Walker. He's
getting ready for this game against Monmouth tomorrow six pm
kick at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Coach, thank you so much
again for the time. We appreciate it and we'll be
pulling for you.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Thanks Walker, joh Niners appreciate it, Tim Albn.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
We'll put that interview on our website wfnz dot com.
Also upload it to our podcast feed anywhere you get
your podcast, just search Wes and Walker and you should
be able to find that interview and all the best
of segments here during the mid days. So great stuff
from him. I'm really hoping man like I think he
wants it. He's interesting to hear the way that he
(26:37):
was talking, just because he already feels the pressure and
I get it. I'll say this, man, your first two games,
ever as a Charlote forty nine er head football coach
are against a historically great program in app State and
maybe the best football coach of all time. Those are
your first two games as a Cali forty nine or
(27:00):
had football coach. Hey, nobody is ready to move on
from Tim Albin at all. I don't see really any
overreaction stuff that you normally see. We see it all
the time on Panthers Monday, right. I don't think you're
seeing that at all with the Charlotte forty nine ers.
I think people respect him. I think people are ready
to win one hundred percent, but I think people understand
(27:20):
that this is going to take a little bit of time.
There wasn't a lot of good left from Biff Pogi,
and I respect everything that Biff Pogi did I do,
but there wasn't a whole lot of left. A lot
of good that we got over the first two years,
the only two years year and a half even that
Pogi was here in Charlotte. We got the ECU wins,
and I love that, but there wasn't a lot that
Tim Albin could pick and choose from and say, Okay,
(27:42):
this is what's working now. Let's go ahead and bring
that to the upcoming season. Yeah, I don't know how
much he had to choose from in that bucket. So
this is going to be a ground up experience in
the schedule. While it's hard, man, I'm not gonna lie
like it's already been hard. App State, North Carolina, Monris, Rice,
South Florida, Army Temple, North Texas, ECU Texas, San Antonio,
(28:03):
Georgia on the road, and then you finish with two
lane on the road like, yeah, got almighty. Like that's
a brutal schedule that you have in the American Conference.
But I do think Tim Albin is going to get
this thing back on track. Fiddy welcome back. By the way,
what you think about Tim Albin getting this thing back
on the right track as he wants to do.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
I think the message has been what the message has
needed to be since he got here. He inherited a disaster,
a mess, and with Biff pog left behind. Tim Alvin's
a winner. You know, you don't do what you did
at Ohio by accident, and so I think it's why
it's it's easier to believe in him succeeding here more
so than Biff who was all talk and no walk
(28:43):
and no sleeves on the sidelines. And I do think
that will it be maybe twenty twenty seven before you
see the fruits of his labor. It might take him
three years to get Charlotte ready to get back to
a bowl game. Maybe you compete for a seven to
eight win regular season. I do think it's going to happen, though,
And I do think this fan base that is, you know,
(29:04):
getting more and more passionate. It's growing, I think by
the year. With with with local strang teens here, I
think it's not too far off that they'll be able
to support a winning product on the field on Saturdays.
What's your to excite you? Because I know how much
that program. You know, it doesn't mean as much to
his basketball coach. You took him to the Final four
in nineteen seventy seven, But you want to win in football,
(29:25):
and I don't think you're too far off from doing so.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Man, what a great year that was in nineteen seventy seven.
I can't wait to have plenty of more of those
years in basketball and football.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
You got something for a shop or are you just
laughing at the job?
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Seventy seven. It was just like it was yesterday.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yeah, one hundred percent. All right, let's move on. We
got one more segment to close out the one o'clock hour.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Willie P.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Gonna be hopping on at two o'clock and we'll be
talking plenty of Panthers as they get ready for the Cardinals.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
In week two.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZY.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Bundy, Every Bundy, Every Bundy.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Big thanks to Wes Bryant Tim Albin joining me on
West and Walker. Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Willy P.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Gonna be hopping on at two o'clock to talk some
Charlotte FC. Fitty is making fun of Willy because he
said that Willy booked himself, which isn't true. He just said, hey,
do you need me today? And I said, you know, yeah,
sure we could have you on. It would be nice
to talk about some Charlotte FC. Haven't talked about them
in a while with all the jam packed Fridays that
we've had, the weird schedule with Wes being gone. So
(30:29):
it's not like he booked himself. He did ask if
I needed him, and I said yes, I did, so
I would have said no, had to not wanted them.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Think, don't you see you didn't need him because you
had me.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Yeah, I knew that was the thing. That's that's exactly
what I expected to come from you, right there, is
that you wanted a little more airtime. I told you
it was all a facade. Yeah, his hands are bitty
being nice, It's all. It's all a ploys well.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
Because Walker won't say it out loud, so I'll say
it for him. God, this is the show he wishes
he was doing every single day, was himself.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Damn myself.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
Maybe shoppy self, just maybe though, maybe just maybe like
three days a week, like a part time rotation for Sharp.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Are you running the board in this West and Fitty show?
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Now?
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Walker? In fifty show?
Speaker 3 (31:09):
I should know Flounder's still running the board. But Flounder
has duct tape. Flounder cannot talk.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
Oh okay, Hey, I'm just communicating your feelings in an
outward way.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
That's all I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
You're interpreting for other people exactly how I feel.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
I've had into your phone and read the text messages.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Hmmm, look, I bet you have done that last part. See,
Fiddy is the kind of guy that will give you
just a little bit of the truth and then everything
else is alive. But you have to take the magnifying
glass out and find where the truth is. And I
think that's where the truth is. You've taken my phone,
and you've stalked me, and you've looked at my text messages.
Everything you said up until then, that was all a lie.
(31:46):
Seven oh four five, seven oh ninety six to ten.
Feel free to text us on the FanDuel text line.
We're talking Panthers. Joe Person had some practice reports over
there at Bank of America Stadium, Ikiakwanu Hunter Renfro. They
were out practicing today. They all have been. They both
have been practicing all week. They were limited participants. The
injury report will be out later this afternoon, and I
(32:09):
do mean later because Dave Canalis was vague on injuries.
The Panthers are not releasing the official injury report until
later this afternoon since they're playing an NFC West team
which will not be releasing their report until later. So
we get it not as soon as you usually we'll
get this report. So who knows if Ikey is going
to be questionable doubtful. I'm not sure. All I know
(32:32):
is that he's been a limited participant this entire week
and that he was making progress.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Yeah, ever since Wednesday, it's all been that's all been
about stacking good days of Hall and good days. How
much does his potential availability impact the result for you?
Speaker 2 (32:47):
On Sunday, Josh Niman gave up the second most amount
of pressures compared to any other tackle in Week one.
I think it matters a lot. And it's not like
Ikey Kwan who was great in past protection, but he's very,
very good in run blocking, and we know that he's
serviceable to above average in pass protection. I think that's
what you saw from him last year. Either way, he's
an upgrade from yosh Naiman. And if you're not going
(33:08):
to play Brady Christiansen, who I do think is a
better pass protector on the left side, then I think
it really does have a pretty big impact in swinging
this thing to Arizona. In fact, when I was listening
to Mina Chimes and Ben Solak preview Game one against
the Jags, Mina picked Jacksonville because of that very thing. Noah,
she said, I'm picking Jacksonville. Icky being out for this
(33:30):
one is the swing factor the whole not.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Playing Brady Krischten at left tackle is one of the
things that they've decided to do that I don't think
they've given a legitimate explanation that makes sense because to
our untrained football eye, Brady Christian is a better left
tackle than Yoshnamon, like he just is. But for some reason,
they've put yosh Namon out there, and you know, I
(33:54):
don't think that's what cost him the game last Sunday Walker.
How do they get impacted the game? And my whole
thing is is like this week two feels as big
as we think it feels. Wouldn't you maybe putting Brady
out there at left tackle over Yash But it doesn't
feel like that's going.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
To be the case.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
If you can't go, yeah, they don't believe that he's
the better left tackle, or I guess they might be
trying to continue having individual offensive linemen play their certain roles,
and so if they just have Brady christiansen listed as
a backup guard, perhaps they just want him focusing on
guard responsibilities the entire season as to not break him
(34:30):
away from that mindsets.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
As strange as that he could play virtually all five positions.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
I agree with you, that's the only thing I can
come up with. But to your point, they haven't said
that if if And honestly, I don't know how many
questions have been asked about the difference between Christiansen and
Nymen and why Nyman is getting the start. But if
they were to ask it, maybe that would be the answer.
But we haven't heard any specific information as to why.
Speaker 4 (34:53):
Yeah, I think that decision on the offensive side of
the football, and then they're reluctance to or their aliens
is still playing Nick Scott is safety over a late
than Ransom are the two things I look at this
roster when they take the field on Sunday, and that's
what I got to see.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Makes no sense to me.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
All Right, So we know that Brady Christensen isn't listed
as the starter at left tackle if Ikiakwanu is out.
We do know, however, that Dave Canalist wants to encourage
Jero Rivero to play the younger guys a little more.
The coordinator spoke yesterday with media. Here's what A zero
Rivero had to say about playing some of those rookies.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
Well, I don't want to get too much into talking
about who we're going to be playing. I think that's,
you know, part of our competitive advantage. But the one
thing I will reiterate is that you know, we're on
board in terms of, like, hey, the mandate is to
develop everybody on our roster, and that's part of coaching
in this league, and that's part of developing the type
of program that we want. And so that's what we're
(35:49):
gonna do. And we're always excited about the challenge to
improve our roster, and that really comes down to development
and on the in the classroom, on the practice field,
obviously on the game field as well, and so that's
what we're always striving towards.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
And Joe persons what I'm hearing.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Article on the Athletic he wrote that he expects Nick
Gordon and Princely Uman Miellen to get more snaps. Nick
Gorton even feels it. He said, I think the coaches
are putting a little bigger role on me. So I'm
just going to go out there and make plays. It's
just football. I've been doing it my whole life. Princely
Uman Miellen even talked a little ball, speaking about going
in with a plan against Kyler Murray when he gets
(36:27):
to the pocket. Kyler is a very mobile quarterback. So
when I get in the backfield, I can't just go
in there wild. You've got to break down and just
read my key to stay disciplined when rushing a guy
like that. The rookies are talking like they're about to
see a much bigger role, and I don't think it's
ill advised to use much. I do think you're going
to see a decent amount more snaps for both of
(36:48):
those guys. Avro's talked about it. Dave Canalis started this
whole thing off when he said he's encouraging his defensive
coordinator to play some of the younger guys. We got
the comments from both the edge rushers. I think Lathan
Ransom is also probably more snaps in replacement of Nick Scott,
and that's something I love to see.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
There's really no excuse to not play those two dudes,
especially with the way that Dan Morgan felt about scoring
when he drafted him. Thought he got a first round
talent as late as he did there on on day two,
And what did you see from dj Wanham, Pat Jones
some of these other guys on Sunday To have those
guys standing on the sidelines, like if those guys would
have been impactful players. They would have made a difference
(37:26):
if they would have been able to set an edge
or get after the quarterback, then I don't think we'd
be sitting here up at arms complaining about those guys
not seeing the field.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
That's not what happened, though.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
Those guys are I'm staying that they got their asses kicked,
but they didn't make an impact on the game to
where it's like I'd much rather go through some growing
pains with the two guys that are going to be
here for the future, as opposed for guys like Wantam
and Pat Jones that could be gone in a.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Year or two.
Speaker 2 (37:50):
Yeah, if the edge rushers gave you some semblance of
a pass rush at all, and they didn't give you
the worst pressure rate in percent of the NFL, that
was it. Trevor Lawrence was fine back there throwing the
football and it happened again. Right, it's talking about the
lack of improvement. I was just speaking about this with
FIfF Pog and the Charlote forty nine ers. They didn't
(38:10):
improve at all from last place. You would say, well,
you can't get any worse. That's true, but I guess
you can stay the same. Perhaps an overlooked factor when
we say it can't get any worse, that's true, but
it can still stay just as bad as it was.
And that's what happened to week one, which is why
we're all beside ourselves watching those edge rushers not give
(38:31):
any pressure to Trevor Lawrence. And I'm hoping that changes
against Kyler Murray, who is going to be able to
escape the pocket a lot more so than what Trevor
does well.
Speaker 4 (38:37):
Because here's the thing. I don't know where you had
Kyler on your top ten yesterday. I don't know where
West had it him on his top ten. I'm not
the biggest Kyler Murray guy. I think he's in that
third tier of quarterback. But if they don't pressure him Walker,
he'll stand back there and he'll pick you apart. Because
Warvin Harrison will be able to make plays on the
football field. You'll get you know, they'll get McBride getting
(38:58):
across the middle of the field. I think if you
can speed him up, though, I think that's where you
see him not trusting his footwork, not trusting the pocket,
and that's where he'll make those plays that turn the game.
The other way, and I think this defense, if it's
gonna take that next step, I think there's still going
to be a defense that gives up yards and points.
But they got to start creating turnovers, and that starts
(39:18):
with getting to the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
And my thing is just keeping contained on Kyler Murray
and those outside rushes. Like I want you to keep
him in the pocket and pressure him at the same time.
That's really hard to do. I understand that that's a
tall task. I do get worried once he escapes throwing
on the run, especially with that strong arm that he has.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
That's what I worry about.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
So wantam don't crash inside so hard and fall down
and allow Kyler Murray to roll outside.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
That's what worries me.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
If you are Umamiel and I like that he's already
cognitively thinking about his pass rush, not going in there
wild and having Kyler escape. Now it's a fire drill
at all hell breaks loose. I like that he's already thinking, Okay,
let's be smart. You want him to find that nice
middle ground of reacting and not thinking too much while
(40:06):
also going in with the game plan. I'm hoping that
that's what's happening. It sounds like that's what's happening, but
you really do have to be smart when rushing a
guy with that kind of mobility. We have one more
hour to go, the two o'clock hour coming up next.
Willie P talking to Charlotte FC Sports Radio ninety two
seven WFNZ
Bonkers.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
We're starting off club at the one o'clock hour, No
Rules Friday, a Football Friday weston Walker Sports Radio ninety
two to seven WFNZ. We're broadcasting live from the Chandler
Volta Studio. CV Injury Law dot Com, CV Injurylot dot Com.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
One call.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
That's all the Carolinas personal injury lawyers. Do you listen
to this type of music during the weekend jam and
watching Kansas State football?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Why is it always Kansas State?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
It is you catches the strays of you making fun
of me not having a weekend life when I'm watching
you just Big twelve football.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
You're a wildcat that loves Wildcats. Baby Cannas State football.
It's must see television. Sorry, I got room for dating
in my life. I gotta watch what they're doing down
of Manhattan.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Well, the joke's on you, because they played a night
and I gotta call a high school football game tonight.
I won't be watching my beloved Wildcats play and tomorrow
and I'll be driving back from Chapel Hill, so I'll
have the quad box on my phone on the YouTube
TV app as I drive back. I expect nothing less.
This is not the music that I listened to. When
I actually have time to listen to.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Music, I'd be laughing.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I am laughing right now picturing you doing the head
bobbing stuff to this song. It just fits, man. I
would love to see that. I'm ready to talk about
some wide receivers because you know me, it's my favorite
position on the football field. Wes is not here to
make me feel guilty of just shooting the potential of
t MAC all the way to the moon. And so
I'm going to celebrate what TMAC did in week one
and experience all the confirmation bias. I'm only I don't
(01:40):
even know how slightly kidding I am when I look
at the.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
T mac on pace stats.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Okay, and I said this yesterday, and most people will
tell you this dude is on pace for blank as
a joke so early in the season. And I am
here for all the jokes. I am here for all
the he's on pace, which when the guy hit five
home runs in the first two games and they say
this guy's on pace for thousands and thousands of home runs,
(02:06):
I'm here for those jokes. But t MAC right now
is on pace for eighty five receptions, eleven hundred and
fifty six receiving yards, thirteen point six average yards per reception,
and six touchdowns. I say that again to say that
it seems pretty attainable to me. I am using that
as something realistic. I feel like Temac could reach. And
(02:29):
I'm not making a joke out of it, because if
he got nine targets in Game one, with Jalen Koker
out for at least a month, with nobody else demanding
passes be thrown their way, are we talking about the
best receiving season from a rookie in Carolina Panthers history,
(02:50):
right here in front of our very eyes. I think
there's potential for that. If you look at any of
the NFL pundits out there nationally, they tell you the
own bright spot for Carolina's offense in this game, it
was that guy. It was t Mac as a top
ten selection, immediately giving you return on investment. I look
at some of the best rookie receiving seasons of all time.
(03:13):
Pokinakua has the record at fourteen eighty six. Bill Groman
nineteen sixty gave you fourteen seventy three. Jamar Chase gave
you fourteen fifty five. If you want to get a
little closer to this decade. Lad McConkey eleven forty nine
is the thirteenth leading rookie receiver ever. Malik Neighbors is
(03:35):
number ten at twelve hundred. I just I see those
numbers and Fitty, I can't help but let out my
excitement because I feel like they're attainable, especially in a
seventeen game season, which matters when we're talking about what
tam Mac could achieve. But there's not another receiver that
demands targets. Adam Thielen isn't here anymore. Bryce Young threw
(03:56):
to t Mac all preseason long. He threw to him
during joint practices, and every question we had when Fland
was still on the roster and Coker was healthy. By
the way, was this just a matchup thing that was
going on in joint practices in the preseason or was
this something we could expect once we get to the
regular season.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
And we got it.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I think you're in store right here, right now for
the best Panthers rookie receiving season that we've ever seen.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah, I think is very much on the table.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
He puts up those numbers and we got to maybe
update those after a month to see what he's on
pace for. He'll be in the conversation to be the
offensive rookie of the year as well for the National
Football League. More importantly, I think he justifies me in
that top ten draft selection when everyone and their mother
thought they were drafted in defense, because they quite literally
told you at the combine we got a draft defensive players.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
It's I always thought.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
His numbers were gonna be higher than what was projected
when Philand was still on the roster, just because every
time that they were together in practice Walker, that's not
Bryce was throwing a team at Yeah, he wasn't throwing
to Thiland. It was Tmac over and over and over again.
And I don't think it was by accident or by
design that we're trying to get an evaluation get him
(05:10):
up to speed. I think that's just how comfortable he
was throwing the football to him. And so, you know,
it's really exciting to see him with so many detractors
after being drafted on draft night, and I was one
of them. Within the immediacy of the draft, I did
not like the draft selection. By the time I went
to bed and woke up, I understood the draft pick,
but it felt like after an offseason, a preseason, and
(05:32):
one game end that top ten draft selection feels validated
for Dan Morgan.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
It does to me too, by the way, people are
asking why he's on pace for six touchdowns for seventeen
would equal zero. Yeah, you're looking at red zone targets.
You're looking at the likelihood of some of those red
zone targets turning in to touchdowns. I don't know what
the exact formula is. I promise you if you want
to go with sixty eight times seventeen, it equals eleven
fifty six. The other ones are directly a product of
(05:59):
exactly what they did in Week one with the six touchdowns.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I get it.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Ky Tow Mafia saying, Walker, you're way too hopeful. If
iMac starts showing up to be the most consistent and
valuable wide receiver, teams will focus on him to force
Bryce to use other wide receivers to beat them and
got some games, says Slim. You forgot about Pooka. No,
I said Puoka was the record holder, So no hookahs
up there at fourteen almost fifteen hundred, fourteen eighty six.
(06:23):
This is how I feel about him. I know that
there is some confirmation bias here, liking the pick, liking
what he was as a product. But I see him
be smooth in and out of his breaks. I see
him creating separation. I believe if you go to the
separation tracking data, he was like top thirty in terms
of most space between him and the nearest defender. Like
I'm ready, baby, I'm ready to go on the TMAC train.
(06:44):
I'm ready to hit for him to achieve some awesome
stuff in his rookie year. Tim Albin, Charlotte forty nine
Ers head football coach, going to be joining us at
one point fifteen, just five minutes from now. Don't go anywhere,
He'll join us in just a moment. On Sports Radio
ninety two to seven WFZ Weston walker Back Sports Radio
(07:16):
ninety two to seven WFNZ, there's the Charlotte forty nine
Ers fight song about to welcome coach Tim Albin to
the guest line, discussing it oh one and two starred
and the rest of the schedule ahead. What he thinks
his team has improved the most on over the past
couple of games. What he hopes to continue to improve on,
the quarterback situation, All of it hope.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
To have him on in just a moment again.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
We're broadcasting live from the Chandler vaulta studio CV Injury
Law dot com, CV Injury Law dot Com.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
One call.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
That's all the Carolinas personal injury lawyers. And I'm hoping
Charlotte doesn't have to experience any more injuries. I know
Henry Rutledge, my guy, like my favorite player on the
team for quite some time, been there for a while.
I'm hoping that he is healthy enough to come back
sooner rather than lay. We'll get a status check on
him and we'll just get a status check overall on
(08:04):
how the forty nine ers can get their first win.
This weekend, they'll play Monmouth, which is an FCS opponent,
but not your typical FCS opponent. This is a powerhouse
at that level. They're a top ranked team and it's
not going to be the easiest of games, but it's
still a game that we're hoping Charlotte can take care of.
And look, if Tim Albin comes in and beats app
(08:27):
State right away, then yeah, it's the best win that
we've had in our program's history, no doubt about it. Here,
I am using we I think it's probably okay if
you're an alum. But of course I didn't suit up
and get destroyed by app State, and I'm hoping that
we don't do that again. But if they would have
won against the Mountaineers, it would have been the most
important game, it would have been the best win. That
clearly didn't happen. Same thing against North Carolina. They did
(08:49):
get better. But Tim albin is starting a project here
out of scratch, and you saw that in Ohio, where
Ohio had a history before him. But what you did see,
at least at Ohio the first year was a losing record,
and then right after that first season, I mean that's
when things really started to take off. He was really
(09:10):
impressive the rest of the way, and I expect that
to happen here. I just think I'm hoping at least
that Charlotte can capitalize on the resources they have given
to them, that they've earned as well, and by year two,
by year three, we just see improvement. I don't think
that Charlotte forty nine ers fans have this unrealistic expectation
(09:33):
about what we should be right here right now. In
Tim Albens first year, I'm just hoping that you get
to see some improvement. However, many games they win or
don't win this year, can you give me three more
the next season? Something like that. Can we have a
better passing game. Can we see a more consistent moving
(09:53):
of the football than stopping the opponent offense. That's what
I'm hoping for, is really just improvement, because that's ultimately
what led to Biff Poge's firing, and that's ultimately what
led to Will Healey's firing.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Also.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Will Healey comes in and raises expectations pretty quickly by
going to a bowl game his first every year, but
again that was with Brad Lambert's prospects and his draft,
his excuse me, his recruits, and after that we didn't
go bowling again under Will Healey and he had plenty
of time. And again with Biff Poggi, you knew it
was going to be a wild risk, but outside of
(10:26):
ECU it looked pretty bad both years. Just improvement, man,
that's what you're wanting to see in Tim Albin's second season.
Hopefully we can hear it straight from the horse's mouth
if he'll join us within the next five, ten, fifteen
minutes or so. Until then, we'll switch gears and talk
a little more Carolina Panthers football on westn Walker Sports
Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. We'll read some of these
(10:49):
text messages we have coming in on Temac. Where we
think his floor is, where we think his ceiling is,
and all of it. Because I'm ready to take off, baby,
I'm ready for t Mac to give us the best
rookie receiving season in franchise history. Seven oh four five
seven oh ninety six ten. That's the fandal text line
ky Town Mafia. We talked about his text. He says, Walker,
I think you're a little too hopeful. Justin says, the
(11:12):
only way t Mac doesn't have huge numbers is if
Bryce falls off a cliff and we're playing the third
string quarterback and then the passing game is just non existent.
Otherwise team AC should e seven oh four five seven oh.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Ninety six ten.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
If you want to get in on that conversation, Yeah,
I think t Mac will eat. I just think he's
gonna be a target monster, and I know there are
gonna be excuses. I'll be the first one to throw
him his way to bracket coverage. He's the only target
worth covering at all. We're just gonna leave everybody else
on an island. We're gonna leave everybody else over there
(11:47):
for the second corner to cover. And t mac is
gonna be somebody that just eats off of that, like
I or we're gonna cover him and focus on him
the most. So I get it. But good receiver can
rise above that quite a bit. And the fifty to
fifty balls for him. He had two contested catches against
Travis Hunter, against Tyson Campbell, like it didn't really matter
(12:08):
who was on him. It just felt like he was
going to win those matchups. And the only quote unquote
drop he had not recorded, but the one that he
said that he dropped was a one handed stab in
the end zone where the guy was draped all over him.
Like I like that, he's taking accountability. But I don't
look at that as a drop really at all. And
so yeah, I'm ready to take off with the potential
(12:28):
for the top ten pick out of Arizona. All right,
we'll go to the guest line now. Tim Alvin Charlotte
forty nine ers head football coach joins us to talk
about the first two games of the season and this
upcoming matchup against Monmouth at home, coach. Great to hear
from you again. Man, how are you doing, Walker?
Speaker 5 (12:44):
How are you? I appreciate you having me on. Sorry
I was a little I was a few minutes late
there with ESPN, they had a lot of questions, what is.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Esp particularly good?
Speaker 1 (12:53):
What were you talking.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
About about the offenses? Offensive stuff? For sure?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, and I figured going against North Carolina as well,
Like maybe after the fact, how much national attention did
you have on you this past week, coach? Like was
it more than you've ever had because of the matchup
against North Carolina and Bill Belichick?
Speaker 5 (13:12):
Yeah? Again, to be honest with you, I didn't. I
mean there's a lot of I guess stuff on social
media and talk about it, you know, And I got
some pretty funny things from a lot of my high
school buddies back home, you know, on it, you know.
But but you know, I mean personally in our sid
Joe did a great job, and it didn't. It wasn't
a distraction for me, you know, unless enough if I
(13:35):
get on my phone and start reading everything. And I'm
sure it could be, but you're so busy, you know.
But I know my I know, my my family and kids.
Surely certainly enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Well, yeah, so what were your expectations going into that
matchup against what many people believe to be, I don't know,
the best football coach of all time? And what was
it like during the game and after, Like, how did
that experience change for you compared to what your anticipation
was heading into it.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
Well, obviously, the expectation and went to win the game.
We had our chances to walker to make it a game,
you know, we had a chance to you know, maybe
maybe pie or be it for sure make it a
one score game and didn't and didn't finish drives and
and you know, it was obviously a very an unbelievable
game they experienced with the crowd, which I just see
(14:23):
the people and sold out. That's great. Well then, but
then I get home to my family the next morning
and had a chance to talk about all this stuff
and the game they experienced just you know, in the
stands was over the moon from according to my family,
who's been to a lot of college games in their
in their career, a lot of bowl games, and it
was like off the chart.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
So my heart hurts for our for.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Niner Nation and our team heart. Their heart hurts because
they want to get They wanted to win both of
those games. Is n state school in state schools that
were playing and couldn't get it done, And uh so
we wanted to win a game and didn't, So we
have to rebound and go on to the next one.
As you know, hey, this this group comes to town.
I'm sure you'll ask. I'm sure we'll get there, but
(15:04):
we're gonna have to play our best game, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Charlot forty Niners head football coach Tim Albin joining us
here on WESN Walker Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ. Coach,
I'm curious you only scored three points, but I think
everybody understands that watched that game that you guys were
better compared to what you showed against app State. You
drove the ball a little bit downfield, you had some
missed opportunities in the red zone. Defensively, you held Carolina
to just seventeen points. Do you look at this game
(15:28):
in week two and say I'm happy that we got
better or are you frustrated with some of the missed
opportunities in the red zone? Like which which way are
you leaning more towards.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Yeah, I mean you get to be, you know, a
true coach. You got to embrace the positives, and you
got to be you know, you gotta have financewers for
why you didn't finish drives. I mean, from from a
staff standpoint, particularly on offense, we went back and watched
watched the drives. You know, look at drive starters. You
know what's lacking? Is it to play call? Is it
(16:00):
we just physically got mismatched? Was it a mistake? You know?
And you know you're just you're constantly trying to figure
out to put yourself in position to finished drives right.
And then defensively, there's there's a lot of positives. They
got a huge test this week. But you can't just
you can't have rose colored glasses. You got to go
(16:23):
in there with the right mindset. It's got to be
it's got it's got to be a learning mindset. And
and then what's your eleven? You know, your your best eleven,
not your eleven best, but your best you know your
you want you want your who is the best eleven
guys out there at one time? And so we've been
(16:43):
all over the place of the staff as far as
trying to find answers. We're gonna see tomorrow night if
if we got any because we got a huge we've
got a huge challenge.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, you mentioned trying to find your best eleven at
this point in the season. How much closer do you
think you are at as at finding that best eleven
you speakuse.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Yeah, that's a fair question, walker, right, you know, and
I'm not this is not non whining. But we've got
we've got the normal week to bumps and bruises. You know,
we've got some guys out that we're gonna have to
fill in. Uh, you know, it's but we got we
have to have the next man up mentality. Our energy
has been good. Our team is not splintering. It's not
(17:21):
you know, they're disappointed with the school board and I
and I'm trying to do the nick saban. Hey, it's
the process, it's the next play. And it can't be
we can't just.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Focus on this on the outcome all the time.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
You know, there's a process to it. And that's where
I spent my time as a head coach, trying to
get those guys to understand and relying on my leaders
or I'm lying relying on our gate keepers of the
you know, of the locker room and our gold standard
and our in our character, and that's where I'm pouring.
We're pouring into these guys's hearts and hopefully we can
(17:53):
continue to make improvements for our fan base.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Yeah, you mentioned player leaders and your gatekeepers. We hear
this all the time in the NFL, and makes sense
because they're technically professionals. But is that still true wanting
to be player led somehow in college football? And if so,
who are some of those gate keepers you speak of?
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Yeah, that's you got to have him. I mean, you know,
irbt Meyer would aways to say, you know, hey, you
know coach led teams and you can win seven eight games,
you know, but the ones that are really special, you know,
all those player led ones. And I'm a true believer
in that. All right, And so are you know the
you know, the deputies or whatever the gatekeepers I said,
(18:31):
you know, you asked for specific, specific names, and you
know some of the useful suspects. I mean, Reid Williford,
Shay Taynor on defense, JQ Conley Tree, I mean there's
several Jayalen Johnson offensively, Johnny King comes to mind. He
looks like he's going to be out tomorrow. You know,
he's gonna be out for a couple of weeks. But
he's still here every day doing his rehabit. He's he's
(18:54):
a great leader. Connor Harrold quarterback, uh and I think
he was one of the highest go getters, you know
for our four team captain. You know, there's there's guys
stepping up, but we already it's it's new, it's a
new staff, and so the staff's got their ear to
the railroadrant railroad tracks on trying to help these guys
(19:14):
because they again outcome based our fan base wants to
win so bad. We haven't got it done. They feel
like they're letting them down, and we can't have that
mindset right now. We've just got to focus on let's
get better.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Charlon forty Niners head football coach Tim Albin joining us
on Weston Walker. You're listening to Sports Radio ninety two
to seven WFNZ. I want to talk more about Connor Harold.
You mentioned that he was going to be the starter
heading into this weekend's matchup against Monmouth. How have you
seen him improve from week one to week two and
so on?
Speaker 5 (19:45):
I think he's he's has gotten better. He's better week
than he was week one, and we need from to
take another jump this week. We got to help him
with run game. I mean, you know what, the quarterback
needs to be able to just turn around a hand
the ball off and and take take a little catch
his breath right and and uh, we haven't really been
(20:05):
consistent enough for him to be able to do that,
but he is again progressing with the offense. The thing
I really love about about Connor is he's not afraid
to be the guy that makes the play to win
the game, and he's not afraid to be the guy
that makes the that doesn't make the play that loses
the game. He I mean, he is That's what you
(20:27):
want as a leader and as a as a playmaker.
If they're if they're worried about I don't want.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
To be the guy that wins it or I don't
want to be the.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Guy that loses it, then they're always in the middle
and their average and Connor, you know, I mean, he
threw a pick the last you know, the last series
in the first half against against the that state, Okay,
and they got a field goal, and hey, he threw
kind of back across his body. Well, just what the
next week against North Carolina, same thing to is right,
(20:55):
throw it.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Back across his body and we had you know, it's
been a.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Good catch, but we didn't get we did we didn't
make to catch. But he he he wasn't scared to
make the try to make the throw again, you know.
And that is encouraging to me, you know, because he
he's not he doesn't care about being the goat.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
You know, or you know, or the goat I mean,
And so that's encouraging.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
That's encouraging to me.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Connor Harrell, also an athletic quarterback, really can run the
football well. Hasn't garnered a lot of rushing yards in
the first two games. Is that something that you want
to try to deploy a little more as the season
goes on, or is that just a product of how
the game had been going period over the first two games.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
That's a great question. I want to say right now
that you've you've been you've been up in the office
hanging around, because that's that has been that I've been
asked that I've asked that question to our offensive staff.
But no, uh uh. He's a guy that can create
with his feet, he can extend plays, and we've got
to use him in the run game a little bit.
And now I will say, we called plays against North Carolina,
and I'm on record is saying that there they are.
(21:55):
They're defensive. Vans are their surf their surfers, they surf.
And so his read is to hand it off, you know,
or pull the ball to the flat, you know. So
but we've got to get him involved in the run
game a little bit more than what we're doing. We
do not want. I don't want a quarterback that's carrying
the ball double digit numbers. I don't want that. I
want he's a quarterback. Now, I want him carrying the
(22:17):
ball seven to nine times a game. And then if
he pulls it down on the scrambles a couple of times,
now you're an eleven carries. That's to me, that's a
good number, all right. But but at the end of
the day, we're going to call the plays that we
need to call to win the game. And so I'm trying.
I'm kind of on the fence, but I agree with
(22:37):
what your question is about. We can utilize him a
little bit more, but we just got to do it
in a smartly sense.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah, no, it does make sense. Coach Tim Alben Charlot
forty nine ers head football coach, joining us on Western
Walker Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ. Do you
want to talk about a standout performer in this last
matchup against Carolina? How about Javon Nicholas Eleven receptions one
hundred and twenty two yards allowed him to get going
so well against the tar Heels.
Speaker 5 (23:03):
Yeah, I mean we're obviously very excited about that, and
I mean he's electric. He's our return guy too, and
he was actually against that state. He was a split
in time between Jade and the gallon who's we lost
for the year. Yeah, he had survey yesterday. Bless his heart,
you know, and then Javon was the full time starter
(23:23):
and that's where the ball went to. You know, we're
gonna have to spread it in a round.
Speaker 6 (23:26):
I mean, he'll he'll be after eleven catchers or.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
Whatever it was that you said. He's going to be
drawn some attention, so we'll we'll have to use that
to our advantage the best that we can.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
But as an offense, we continue, we've got.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
To build some things around him because he's got breakaway speed,
and you know, coming off eleven catch game, we've got
to continue to get him in a flow of things
as well.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Coach, you mentioned the run game being a priority, trying
to improve that heading into Mondmouth. Only twenty one rushing
yards against North Carolina? Is that being better in the trenches?
Is that being better all around? Like what specifically do
you point to and say, Okay, if we improve there,
then the running game overall is going to improve.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Yeah, the number is what the I mean the stats.
You are what your stats say. You are builb ourselves.
You know you are what your record is, right, and
if we can eliminate four beat snaps, Okay, that number
is not twenty one Hill Herds, So that let's start
with that, all right. I mean, we got some things done,
but it was it was we got to get some
more explosives. I mean, I mean they popped the run
(24:25):
in the second quarter. I think, you know, which is
the bulk of their rush yards. You know, we need
to we need to I think our longest run maybe
twelve or something, twelve yards. I think we got we
gotta we got to get that number up. We've got
to find some explosives in the run. Game. We have
shown signs from first game the second game about being
able to drive the ball, you know where everybody knows
(24:45):
we've got to finish drives with points. We know that,
but but specifically about the run game. We've had some
musical shares up front. As I said, Johnny's going to
be out. I think we've got our best best five
up there, and now we've got to go out there
and do it.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Coach Tim Albin joining us here on Western Walker. Final
thing for me, Coach, I really do appreciate your time.
What's something you've learned about coaching at Charlotte since you've
had your first two games on the schedule over and
done with. Is there something that you didn't anticipate that
you've experienced over the last couple of weeks. Is it
basically what you expected? What's something you've learned?
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Yeah, I tell you what. I love our fan base. Man.
They are passionate. You can keep all the social keep
it coming good or bad. I don't care, because I
mean that means they're passionate. You don't the plate, you
don't have the plays all. I get it. I'll bring
it on, I'll defight it all. But I love our
fan base. It's inspiring to me. They want they want
(25:41):
this thing to be successful, and that is you know.
I knew that they had great fans and I you
know from what I've heard, but man, our fan base
were over the moon, and so that's really inspiring for
me come to the office. I love what I do,
but I want to get this thing going for them.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Tim Albyn joining us here on Wes and Walker. He's
getting ready for this game against Monmouth tomorrow six pm
kick at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Coach, thank you so much
again for the time. We appreciate it and we'll be
pulling for you.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Thanks Walker, joh Niners appreciate it, Tim Albn.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
We'll put that interview on our website wfnz dot com.
Also upload it to our podcast feed anywhere you get
your podcast, just search Wes and Walker and you should
be able to find that interview and all the best
of segments here during the mid days. So great stuff
from him. I'm really hoping man like I think he
wants it. He's interesting to hear the way that he
(26:37):
was talking, just because he already feels the pressure and
I get it. I'll say this, man, your first two games,
ever as a Charlote forty nine er head football coach
are against a historically great program in app State and
maybe the best football coach of all time. Those are
your first two games as a Cali forty nine or
(27:00):
had football coach. Hey, nobody is ready to move on
from Tim Albin at all. I don't see really any
overreaction stuff that you normally see. We see it all
the time on Panthers Monday, right. I don't think you're
seeing that at all with the Charlotte forty nine ers.
I think people respect him. I think people are ready
to win one hundred percent, but I think people understand
(27:20):
that this is going to take a little bit of time.
There wasn't a lot of good left from Biff Pogi,
and I respect everything that Biff Pogi did I do,
but there wasn't a whole lot of left. A lot
of good that we got over the first two years,
the only two years year and a half even that
Pogi was here in Charlotte. We got the ECU wins,
and I love that, but there wasn't a lot that
Tim Albin could pick and choose from and say, Okay,
(27:42):
this is what's working now. Let's go ahead and bring
that to the upcoming season. Yeah, I don't know how
much he had to choose from in that bucket. So
this is going to be a ground up experience in
the schedule. While it's hard, man, I'm not gonna lie
like it's already been hard. App State, North Carolina, Monris, Rice,
South Florida, Army Temple, North Texas, ECU Texas, San Antonio,
(28:03):
Georgia on the road, and then you finish with two
lane on the road like, yeah, got almighty. Like that's
a brutal schedule that you have in the American Conference.
But I do think Tim Albin is going to get
this thing back on track. Fiddy welcome back. By the way,
what you think about Tim Albin getting this thing back
on the right track as he wants to do.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
I think the message has been what the message has
needed to be since he got here. He inherited a disaster,
a mess, and with Biff pog left behind. Tim Alvin's
a winner. You know, you don't do what you did
at Ohio by accident, and so I think it's why
it's it's easier to believe in him succeeding here more
so than Biff who was all talk and no walk
(28:43):
and no sleeves on the sidelines. And I do think
that will it be maybe twenty twenty seven before you
see the fruits of his labor. It might take him
three years to get Charlotte ready to get back to
a bowl game. Maybe you compete for a seven to
eight win regular season. I do think it's going to happen, though,
And I do think this fan base that is, you know,
(29:04):
getting more and more passionate. It's growing, I think by
the year. With with with local strang teens here, I
think it's not too far off that they'll be able
to support a winning product on the field on Saturdays.
What's your to excite you? Because I know how much
that program. You know, it doesn't mean as much to
his basketball coach. You took him to the Final four
in nineteen seventy seven, But you want to win in football,
(29:25):
and I don't think you're too far off from doing so.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Man, what a great year that was in nineteen seventy seven.
I can't wait to have plenty of more of those
years in basketball and football.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
You got something for a shop or are you just
laughing at the job?
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Seventy seven. It was just like it was yesterday.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yeah, one hundred percent. All right, let's move on. We
got one more segment to close out the one o'clock hour.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Willie P.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Gonna be hopping on at two o'clock and we'll be
talking plenty of Panthers as they get ready for the Cardinals.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
In week two.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZY.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Bundy, Every Bundy, Every Bundy.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Big thanks to Wes Bryant Tim Albin joining me on
West and Walker. Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Willy P.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Gonna be hopping on at two o'clock to talk some
Charlotte FC. Fitty is making fun of Willy because he
said that Willy booked himself, which isn't true. He just said, hey,
do you need me today? And I said, you know, yeah,
sure we could have you on. It would be nice
to talk about some Charlotte FC. Haven't talked about them
in a while with all the jam packed Fridays that
we've had, the weird schedule with Wes being gone. So
(30:29):
it's not like he booked himself. He did ask if
I needed him, and I said yes, I did, so
I would have said no, had to not wanted them.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Think, don't you see you didn't need him because you
had me.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Yeah, I knew that was the thing. That's that's exactly
what I expected to come from you, right there, is
that you wanted a little more airtime. I told you
it was all a facade. Yeah, his hands are bitty
being nice, It's all. It's all a ploys well.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
Because Walker won't say it out loud, so I'll say
it for him. God, this is the show he wishes
he was doing every single day, was himself.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Damn myself.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
Maybe shoppy self, just maybe though, maybe just maybe like
three days a week, like a part time rotation for Sharp.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Are you running the board in this West and Fitty show?
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Now?
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Walker? In fifty show?
Speaker 3 (31:09):
I should know Flounder's still running the board. But Flounder
has duct tape. Flounder cannot talk.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
Oh okay, Hey, I'm just communicating your feelings in an
outward way.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
That's all I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
You're interpreting for other people exactly how I feel.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
I've had into your phone and read the text messages.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Hmmm, look, I bet you have done that last part. See,
Fiddy is the kind of guy that will give you
just a little bit of the truth and then everything
else is alive. But you have to take the magnifying
glass out and find where the truth is. And I
think that's where the truth is. You've taken my phone,
and you've stalked me, and you've looked at my text messages.
Everything you said up until then, that was all a lie.
(31:46):
Seven oh four five, seven oh ninety six to ten.
Feel free to text us on the FanDuel text line.
We're talking Panthers. Joe Person had some practice reports over
there at Bank of America Stadium, Ikiakwanu Hunter Renfro. They
were out practicing today. They all have been. They both
have been practicing all week. They were limited participants. The
injury report will be out later this afternoon, and I
(32:09):
do mean later because Dave Canalis was vague on injuries.
The Panthers are not releasing the official injury report until
later this afternoon since they're playing an NFC West team
which will not be releasing their report until later. So
we get it not as soon as you usually we'll
get this report. So who knows if Ikey is going
to be questionable doubtful. I'm not sure. All I know
(32:32):
is that he's been a limited participant this entire week
and that he was making progress.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Yeah, ever since Wednesday, it's all been that's all been
about stacking good days of Hall and good days. How
much does his potential availability impact the result for you?
Speaker 2 (32:47):
On Sunday, Josh Niman gave up the second most amount
of pressures compared to any other tackle in Week one.
I think it matters a lot. And it's not like
Ikey Kwan who was great in past protection, but he's very,
very good in run blocking, and we know that he's
serviceable to above average in pass protection. I think that's
what you saw from him last year. Either way, he's
an upgrade from yosh Naiman. And if you're not going
(33:08):
to play Brady Christiansen, who I do think is a
better pass protector on the left side, then I think
it really does have a pretty big impact in swinging
this thing to Arizona. In fact, when I was listening
to Mina Chimes and Ben Solak preview Game one against
the Jags, Mina picked Jacksonville because of that very thing. Noah,
she said, I'm picking Jacksonville. Icky being out for this
(33:30):
one is the swing factor the whole not.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Playing Brady Krischten at left tackle is one of the
things that they've decided to do that I don't think
they've given a legitimate explanation that makes sense because to
our untrained football eye, Brady Christian is a better left
tackle than Yoshnamon, like he just is. But for some reason,
they've put yosh Namon out there, and you know, I
(33:54):
don't think that's what cost him the game last Sunday Walker.
How do they get impacted the game? And my whole
thing is is like this week two feels as big
as we think it feels. Wouldn't you maybe putting Brady
out there at left tackle over Yash But it doesn't
feel like that's going.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
To be the case.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
If you can't go, yeah, they don't believe that he's
the better left tackle, or I guess they might be
trying to continue having individual offensive linemen play their certain roles,
and so if they just have Brady christiansen listed as
a backup guard, perhaps they just want him focusing on
guard responsibilities the entire season as to not break him
(34:30):
away from that mindsets.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
As strange as that he could play virtually all five positions.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
I agree with you, that's the only thing I can
come up with. But to your point, they haven't said
that if if And honestly, I don't know how many
questions have been asked about the difference between Christiansen and
Nymen and why Nyman is getting the start. But if
they were to ask it, maybe that would be the answer.
But we haven't heard any specific information as to why.
Speaker 4 (34:53):
Yeah, I think that decision on the offensive side of
the football, and then they're reluctance to or their aliens
is still playing Nick Scott is safety over a late
than Ransom are the two things I look at this
roster when they take the field on Sunday, and that's
what I got to see.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Makes no sense to me.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
All Right, So we know that Brady Christensen isn't listed
as the starter at left tackle if Ikiakwanu is out.
We do know, however, that Dave Canalist wants to encourage
Jero Rivero to play the younger guys a little more.
The coordinator spoke yesterday with media. Here's what A zero
Rivero had to say about playing some of those rookies.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
Well, I don't want to get too much into talking
about who we're going to be playing. I think that's,
you know, part of our competitive advantage. But the one
thing I will reiterate is that you know, we're on
board in terms of, like, hey, the mandate is to
develop everybody on our roster, and that's part of coaching
in this league, and that's part of developing the type
of program that we want. And so that's what we're
(35:49):
gonna do. And we're always excited about the challenge to
improve our roster, and that really comes down to development
and on the in the classroom, on the practice field,
obviously on the game field as well, and so that's
what we're always striving towards.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
And Joe persons what I'm hearing.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Article on the Athletic he wrote that he expects Nick
Gordon and Princely Uman Miellen to get more snaps. Nick
Gorton even feels it. He said, I think the coaches
are putting a little bigger role on me. So I'm
just going to go out there and make plays. It's
just football. I've been doing it my whole life. Princely
Uman Miellen even talked a little ball, speaking about going
in with a plan against Kyler Murray when he gets
(36:27):
to the pocket. Kyler is a very mobile quarterback. So
when I get in the backfield, I can't just go
in there wild. You've got to break down and just
read my key to stay disciplined when rushing a guy
like that. The rookies are talking like they're about to
see a much bigger role, and I don't think it's
ill advised to use much. I do think you're going
to see a decent amount more snaps for both of
(36:48):
those guys. Avro's talked about it. Dave Canalis started this
whole thing off when he said he's encouraging his defensive
coordinator to play some of the younger guys. We got
the comments from both the edge rushers. I think Lathan
Ransom is also probably more snaps in replacement of Nick Scott,
and that's something I love to see.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
There's really no excuse to not play those two dudes,
especially with the way that Dan Morgan felt about scoring
when he drafted him. Thought he got a first round
talent as late as he did there on on day two,
And what did you see from dj Wanham, Pat Jones
some of these other guys on Sunday To have those
guys standing on the sidelines, like if those guys would
have been impactful players. They would have made a difference
(37:26):
if they would have been able to set an edge
or get after the quarterback, then I don't think we'd
be sitting here up at arms complaining about those guys
not seeing the field.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
That's not what happened, though.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
Those guys are I'm staying that they got their asses kicked,
but they didn't make an impact on the game to
where it's like I'd much rather go through some growing
pains with the two guys that are going to be
here for the future, as opposed for guys like Wantam
and Pat Jones that could be gone in a.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Year or two.
Speaker 2 (37:50):
Yeah, if the edge rushers gave you some semblance of
a pass rush at all, and they didn't give you
the worst pressure rate in percent of the NFL, that
was it. Trevor Lawrence was fine back there throwing the
football and it happened again. Right, it's talking about the
lack of improvement. I was just speaking about this with
FIfF Pog and the Charlote forty nine ers. They didn't
(38:10):
improve at all from last place. You would say, well,
you can't get any worse. That's true, but I guess
you can stay the same. Perhaps an overlooked factor when
we say it can't get any worse, that's true, but
it can still stay just as bad as it was.
And that's what happened to week one, which is why
we're all beside ourselves watching those edge rushers not give
(38:31):
any pressure to Trevor Lawrence. And I'm hoping that changes
against Kyler Murray, who is going to be able to
escape the pocket a lot more so than what Trevor
does well.
Speaker 4 (38:37):
Because here's the thing. I don't know where you had
Kyler on your top ten yesterday. I don't know where
West had it him on his top ten. I'm not
the biggest Kyler Murray guy. I think he's in that
third tier of quarterback. But if they don't pressure him Walker,
he'll stand back there and he'll pick you apart. Because
Warvin Harrison will be able to make plays on the
football field. You'll get you know, they'll get McBride getting
(38:58):
across the middle of the field. I think if you
can speed him up, though, I think that's where you
see him not trusting his footwork, not trusting the pocket,
and that's where he'll make those plays that turn the game.
The other way, and I think this defense, if it's
gonna take that next step, I think there's still going
to be a defense that gives up yards and points.
But they got to start creating turnovers, and that starts
(39:18):
with getting to the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
And my thing is just keeping contained on Kyler Murray
and those outside rushes. Like I want you to keep
him in the pocket and pressure him at the same time.
That's really hard to do. I understand that that's a
tall task. I do get worried once he escapes throwing
on the run, especially with that strong arm that he has.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
That's what I worry about.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
So wantam don't crash inside so hard and fall down
and allow Kyler Murray to roll outside.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
That's what worries me.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
If you are Umamiel and I like that he's already
cognitively thinking about his pass rush, not going in there
wild and having Kyler escape. Now it's a fire drill
at all hell breaks loose. I like that he's already thinking, Okay,
let's be smart. You want him to find that nice
middle ground of reacting and not thinking too much while
(40:06):
also going in with the game plan. I'm hoping that
that's what's happening. It sounds like that's what's happening, but
you really do have to be smart when rushing a
guy with that kind of mobility. We have one more
hour to go, the two o'clock hour coming up next.
Willie P talking to Charlotte FC Sports Radio ninety two
seven WFNZ
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