Chargers Weekly: Biggest Difference-Makers On 2025 Bolts

On this episode of Chargers Weekly, Bolts radio play-by-play announcer Matt “Money” Smith and is joined by The Athletic’s Daniel Popper to recap the latest news involving LA and the entire NFL. Money and Popper break down the biggest difference-makers to watch in the leadup to the 2025 season, including outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, linebacker Daiyan Henley, rookie running back Omarion Hampton, wide receiver Ladd McConkey and more.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Late fifteen ten touched Upuck. Welcome to Chargers Weekly. Daniel
Popper or kind enough to join us so you can
follow him on x or Instagram or read him at
the Athletic. We see it every time he joins us.

(00:21):
Best of the best, and love the Athletic, love all
our content. Popper's awesome in his coverage of the Chargers,
and you build that out to Robert Mays and all
the guys that are covering football and it really is
a must have for any football fan. Pops, I'll let
you promote the other stuff. Hops with Pop. I know
you got a substack rolling, so why don't you just
kind of push that immediately and make sure the folks

(00:43):
that are tuning in know where they can find you.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Always so nice money when I come on the show.

Speaker 3 (00:48):
But yeah, kind of substack rolling Hops with Pop dot
substack dot com, streaming weekly, doing our live streams.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
You can get my.

Speaker 3 (00:57):
Podcast anywhere you get your podcast spotif Apple. So we
do the live streams and they populate onto the podcast
streaming services.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
You can rewatch the video on substack.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
I got a chat going on the substack that I'm
pretty active in answering questions just put up a video
the other day breaking down film a first round pick
a Mario and Hampton. So got a lot of cool
stuff going on over there and would obviously appreciate everyone
heading over there to listen, to watch, and to hang
out with me in the chat.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
Why don't we start with kind of what's There's really
not a lot going on, but there is Phase two
going on. Have you learned anything since the draft about
this team? Signings non signings depth, the fact that they
added a wide receiver on a rookie tryout, and Campbell
just kind of what's happening in the Daniel Popp Rise
as you look at the Chargers.

Speaker 3 (01:42):
Yeah, so out at Phase two practice earlier this week,
just kind of moseying about the sideline looking at guys.
You know, one big thing was like this whole Zion
Johnson the center thing I've been talking about since February
was an idea and now we saw it in practice,
or at least I did for the first I'm on
Tuesday with him actually snapping balls to Justin Herbert. I'm

(02:04):
fascinated to see what happens there as far as his transition,
if their idea of what they think is going to
happen actually materializes what happens on the interior. McKai Beckton
is really big. That's another thing that jumps out. And
you know, obviously, you know, my mind always goes to
the offensive line first, but you know, you start envisioning

(02:26):
Mkai Beckton and Joe Alt double teaming defensive linemen on
the right side of that line in the run game,
and your imagination starts to run wild a little bit.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
And then you look at these receivers.

Speaker 3 (02:38):
Man, you know, you see Justin Herbert throwing routes against air,
you know, to a couple of these rookies.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
You look at Aronde Gadson their fifth round pick.

Speaker 3 (02:47):
You know, you look at all these explosive pieces they
added to the offense, and you start thinking about, okay, like,
how different is this going to look this year compared
to last year when it was basically the Ladd mcconukee
show and not much else. You know, how is Justin
Herbert going to be able to attack down field, which
you know, when we've seen him at his best, that's it,
you know, it's it's really being able to tack with

(03:08):
with players who can access the deep part of the
field and then you know, Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbob
said it. But you see the defensive lineman out there.
You see that group working with defensive line coach Mike Elston,
and they are big and they are deep, and I'm
really curious to see among that group like who really
like takes over and becomes the guy. You know obviously
that you know, we had the same kind of questions

(03:29):
heading into last year and it was ended up being
poon Afford, But you could you could you could tell me,
you know, five different guys that becomes sort of like
the guy in that group who you know is getting
the most playing time, producing the most. It could be
Teer Tart, could be Jamark Caldwell, you could tell me,
it could be Deshaun Hant. You know, I really like
the way that he played on film for Miami against
the Run. So just a few things there, but yeah,

(03:52):
just kind of you look around the practice field and
you're all right, looks a little bit different, but you know,
there's a lot of potential, you know in some of
these groups with them that they've made and how they've
sort of restructured the roster.

Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah, kind of the one thing with this particular regime
or iteration of Chargers football now and it's not going
into its ninth year here in Los Angeles. That I
feel with this particular team is just depth. I feel
like there's a lot of depth out there, you know
it is it blue chips? Don't know? I mean, you know,
it's hard to say that, Yeah, there's blue chips out
there right now, you know, but Putaford turned into a

(04:25):
blue chip player, you know, on a low money deal,
and I look at it and it's just like, Wow,
there's so much depth that we're gonna have. You're gonna
have a hell of a time. We always have fun
doing the fifty three popper. I think the fifty threes.
Is it four running backs? Is it seven wide receivers?
Is it four tight ends? Is it five tight ends?
If you include a full back. You know, there's a
lot of different I guess ways that this roster could

(04:48):
be constructed based on how they want to play and
the amount of players that they've kind of thrown into
this mix save one group, like the one group that
I look at and I'm like, Wow, it's O line
And it's like you just kind of think about what's
behind that You know, if it's going to be the
same starting front, you know, plus Mackay, Beckeden and Tray

(05:09):
is your swing. I kind of look at what's behind that,
and that's the one where I circle and I'm like, okay,
I could see them maybe keeping an eye on cuts
and guys that are performing somewhere else. But otherwise I
feel I mean, tell me if you feel like I'm
missing something here, I feel pretty good just based on
sort of the money they gave Dante Jackson and you know,

(05:30):
it's not a lot, but it's enough to suggest, Okay,
they think he's going to be a viable contributor to
this team in Saint Jus just kind of fits what
they like, you know, and I think he's a tracy
guy that they like, and they're like, yeah, give this
guy to clink and you'll see him take the steps.
So for me, it's if there's one position that I
look at, it's that one. It's like, wow, I could
I could see them looking for a better interior backup

(05:52):
offensive lineman in case back then as an injury history,
you know, something happens there or with Zion or with
with Bozeman. You know, I think everybody's kind of talking
a little bit now about Andre James and maybe there
were some you know that the falloff last year wasn't
necessarily because of the offense, but there could be an
issue you know, medically that that he was dealing with,
and you wonder whether or not he's passed that. So

(06:13):
to me, that's that's the one position group that I'm
looking at and I'm like, Okay, who's still out there?
Who can they get for that bargain or that that
you know late day three pick that they could you know,
the Elijah Molden deals that they were making, that they
could go out and scoop up to just kind of
help that particular room out a little bit.

Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah, I think it sort of speaks to the depth
that that's the position group you bring up, and I
agree with you, but like your things. You know, sixth
offensive lineman and Trey Pipkins has started you know what,
forty something games in the league. Yeah, you know, your
your seventh offensive lineman, Jamari Salier has started at two
different positions and over the over a full season.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
So like it, like it could be a lot worse.

Speaker 3 (06:49):
Like, trust me, you and I have both covered this
team long enough to know that you could be in
a much much worse position on your offensive line than
they are in. But you know, I do agree with you,
and that's probably my biggest question, you know, heading into
OTAs and heading into you know, training camp, how does
this work out?

Speaker 2 (07:07):
Right?

Speaker 3 (07:08):
And you can even throw Andre James in there. I
mean Andre James has started sixty games, right, yeah, So
but it's like, okay, how does this work out? You know,
you know when the pads come on? You know, what
does Zion Johnson look like at center? Is that actually
going to work out? How does left guard shake out?

Speaker 2 (07:22):
Like?

Speaker 3 (07:22):
Is Brandon Taylor a guy that we are overlooking here
as somebody who could potentially play left guard?

Speaker 2 (07:27):
I don't know. They're trying and there right now.

Speaker 3 (07:29):
It's it's it's all an idea right now, you know,
with that group specifically, it's like you don't really know
what you have until those pads come on and you
start seeing these guys actually work and play through contact
and all of that kind of stuff. But you know,
I've been saying it for for months. At this point,
like I felt like they probably needed two new starters
on the interior to really get this thing to a
place where they could play the way that Jim Harbaugh

(07:51):
wants to play right now, it's it's looking like one
new starter and and there are guys still out there
right like on the on the free Asian market that
potentially could come in.

Speaker 1 (07:59):
Will Hernandez is you know, yeah for sure?

Speaker 3 (08:01):
Right And if you're saying competitors welcome like you want
right now, it could be you know, three guys battling
at center and four guys battling at left guard like
why not more right?

Speaker 1 (08:10):
Like yeah, I think one thing it also tells you
pop and you know this is like there's not a
lot offensive linemen out there, man that you can find
yourself d lineman. You can find edge rushers, you can
find dprs and you know, is it easy? No, but
you can. You know, those those guys, I feel like
you can. You have a better opportunity to find them

(08:31):
than you do, oh lineman. When people and I'm talking
about high level when when teams find high level O
lineman in less of the Houston Texans, they keep them,
you know, and those guys just rarely bake the market.
And so that's sort of the one thing that that
I'm anxious to see how this Slater deal is is
going to be squared away because you and I have

(08:52):
talked about this for years now, and just how the
number keeps going up and up and up, and I
don't know how that reconciles with this front office where
it could have been twenty eight last year and now
it's I would imagine north of thirty based on his
agent and what his agent wants and if you're representing
these guys and he's an all pro, you know, and

(09:13):
it's just and look, I've done this before, man. I
have done this dance with Derwin, I've done it with Bosa,
I've done it with Herbert, and ultimately it gets done.
We talked to Joe Ortiz last week and he said
all the right thing. He's like, come on, man, of
course we're going to get Slater back. There's no doubt
about it. It's just you know, working through it. But

(09:33):
I just kind of look at it through that financial
lens of and this deal got a lot more expensive.
I would imagine from Rashawn's side, from his agent side,
that this deal with the jump in the cap, with
the non quarterback pay percentage of cap that non quarterbacks
are getting now at edge and at you know, with
Miles Garrett and at wide receiver with Chase I just

(09:56):
I think it's going to be a little bit tougher
than maybe some people are.

Speaker 3 (10:00):
Well, here's what I'd say about that, it takes two
to make a deal. So Rashaun Slater in his camp
also would have had to want to make a deal
last year versus betting on him and knowing that there
were deals that were gonna get done, and knowing that
if he played well and entered this offseason without a
contract extension, that he would probably make more money. So
I think that's part of it, right, But ultimately, like
like you said, you mentioned those guys, like all of

(10:22):
those deals went either right up to the edge of
training camp. Within Thurwin's case, it went to August seventeenth.
I looked this up, you know, the timing of all
this stuff, even like Keenan's extension went right up until
like Labor Day when he signed.

Speaker 2 (10:34):
His that was the third contract.

Speaker 3 (10:35):
The other guys are obviously second contracts, and like, yeah,
it's a new front office, but Ed maguire is still
negotiating the contracts and it's the same ownership and so
like this is sort of the process. You know, they're
gonna they're gonna negotiate, right and like at this point,
you know, maybe it's like still a little bit early,
but as it gets towards training camp, like like the
number is the number at that point you're negotiating over
like the minutia of the contract, and like the agents

(10:58):
are are trying to get the absolute best deal for
their clients. And then when they come to the table
again or they're trying to get new clients, they can
point to things that they.

Speaker 2 (11:03):
Were able to negotiate.

Speaker 3 (11:05):
So I the way this has always happened historically, Like
my guess is it's like report day, day before report day.
Maybe it extends into training camp like it did with Derwin,
but that deal was, like the Durwin deal was basically done.
It was two weeks of like haggling over like the
minutia of the minutia of the contract and then you know,
but Derwin was at practice and like eventually.

Speaker 2 (11:27):
It gets done and it becomes like.

Speaker 3 (11:29):
A total afterthought, you know, by the start of the
regular season.

Speaker 2 (11:33):
So it just it it makes sense.

Speaker 3 (11:36):
And at the end of the day, like the market
is the market, Like if you if you have a
left tackle that is an elite player, like you're gonna
pay him a certain amount of money. It's not like
they're gonna get some huge discount here because they're playing,
you know, tough at the negotiating table now when he's not.

Speaker 1 (11:50):
All pro, not when he's an all pro left tackle.
It's just exactly right and.

Speaker 3 (11:54):
Also the way you want to play, like right, like
like when you're when when your run game coordinator Andy
Bischoff comes out in his first press conference and he says,
we have an O line centric building and you have
an elite left tackle and you don't pay him top
of the market, Like those two things don't know that
you know, don't line up, you know, so ultimately, like
if you're gonna be a physical, dominant line of scrimmage team,

(12:14):
like you better be paying your elite offensive lineman, you know,
like their elite offensive lineman based on what the market
is on you.

Speaker 1 (12:20):
And I think it also sends a signal to your
first round, top five pick from last year, like we
appreciate you. This is this is an O line, you know,
tip of the spear. O line is a weapon, play
physical football, Like it's just like you said, it runs
in step with everything that's been messaged by this front office,
this coaching staff of how they want to build a team.
So again I just for me, it's and there's no

(12:42):
scar tissue there, right, I've never I've done this is
my ninth year. I've never once had a contract issue
lead to a trade going into a season because they
weren't able to resolve it. So you know, on that front,
it's not like I have anything that that I can
point to to say, yeah, I'm just worried about this
thing happening again and just haven't seen that, you know.
I mean, I guess you could say Keenan from last
year when he refused to take a pay cut, But

(13:04):
that was totally understandable. I think based on you know
that that Joey and Khalil took a pay cut, that
they were thirty whatever million dollars over the cap, and
you couldn't bring that guy back not taking a pay
cut when the other two guys did. That was a
little bit.

Speaker 2 (13:17):
Uh yeah, different.

Speaker 3 (13:19):
I thought that that situation probably could have been handled
differently from from keenanside.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
I think the one thing I will.

Speaker 3 (13:25):
Pay from from that side, Yes, the one thing I
could bring up with Rashan though, is like, you do
you do wonder if the injury stuff is factoring into
this negotiation. Right, missed all of twenty two, you know,
had a bit of a down year in twenty three
as he was battling ankle issues. You know, had the
peck injury last year. Obviously he was able to play
through it, but you do wonder if that does you know,

(13:45):
factor into sort of the thought process there. And obviously,
like you know, it's a cold business when you get
to the negotiating table, like everything becomes a thing that
you're talking about.

Speaker 1 (13:55):
So I was wondering if I were in his camp,
my pushback on that would be is, yeah, you know
what a lot of other guys would out, they would
they would set out. But Rashaan is is a freaking
psycho and a warrior and is all about protecting Justin
Herbert and that's why he was out there. And but
you're right, it's like what's the vast And then you
just kind of look at you know, when you're trying

(14:15):
to read these tee Lea's and you look at Baltimore
and you look at their offensive line and particularly tackles.
They like giants, you know, they like these massive human beings.
And Joe Walt and Mackai backed then and and I think,
and look, that's why the Chargers were able to draft
Rashaan Slater because there were people that were concerned about
the size, about the length, and all he is is

(14:38):
just the best technician in football. And once he gets
his hands on you, it is absolutely over.

Speaker 2 (14:43):
Just watch that. I don't I don't care about it.
Just watch the film.

Speaker 3 (14:47):
Like if they're having questions about that because he doesn't
fit a certain profile, just go watch the film.

Speaker 2 (14:52):
And that's all you need to know exactly.

Speaker 1 (14:54):
I don't want to it's a waste of my time.
But I am actually segueing into something else, and that
is these first three games of the season, and why
I'm like, Okay, this has got to get figured out
in training camp, Like this is not a okay, we
gotta you know, because it's Chris Jones and the Chiefs,
it's Christian Wilkins and the Raiders. It's that front of

(15:16):
of you know, that front seven of Denver that's gonna
be coming after that interior line. And they're all division games,
and I mean that's I mean, when you look at
that at what the Broncos did this offseason and DJ
Jones and Cooper and Greenlaw and Alan like it is
a I don't want to say no name, but you
know what I mean, Like it's not that splash, but man,

(15:36):
that's a good front and that that old line is
going to be tested. Like you're you're Zion Johnson and
you got freaking Chris Jones lining up over you and
you're trying center for the first time in a game.
That's That's what I'm talking about on this particular position group.

Speaker 2 (15:52):
Yeah, yeah, no, I'm I'm I'm with you.

Speaker 3 (15:54):
Like in I went into the offseason feeling like they
were going to be aggressive and trying to fix this
because it was bad in Houston. Like if you want
to point to one thing that went wrong there, you know,
you know, go nine plays into the game and you'll see,
you know, Zion and Bradley Boseman, you know, unable to
pick up a stunt in the interior, leading to you.

Speaker 2 (16:16):
Know, pressure. So you know, I'm with you.

Speaker 3 (16:19):
I think like from their eyes, like if McKai Beckton
is playing at the level he was playing for with
the Eagles, and he's on the field and he's available,
you know, the idea is that he's going to elevate everybody.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
Everybody, Yeah, you know, which I think is fair.

Speaker 3 (16:33):
I don't really have any questions about like what McKai
Beckton can be. I think you can probably ask the
question like, Okay, you know how much of it was
Jeff stoutlind the Eagles offensive line coach. Is he going
to continue to play at that level? But if he's
on the field, I think he's going to be a
very clear upgrade at the position.

Speaker 2 (16:47):
To me, it's like how many games are you going
to get out of him?

Speaker 3 (16:50):
Because you talk to some people around the league and
they look at what happened with the Eagles and they're like,
that's the aberration, Like getting eighteen games out of that
guy between the regular season and the playoffs. Like is
he going to be able to you that now, we
did play sixteen games the year before with the Jets,
and maybe he's put this stuff behind him, But like
we've we've gone down this road before where you feel
like the Chargers go out and free agency and they
fix a problem with an injury. You know, a player

(17:14):
with an injury history like Brian Buloga is a great example,
like Boom signed Brian Bulaga immediately right tackle set, and
we got hurt the first first game of the season,
and then all of the Sun contract and then it's
all of a sudden, you're you're on Storm Norton and
it's like it's it's not good, you know, so you know,
and but that's you know, it's a good problem to have,

(17:36):
you know, Like there's been years past where you're talking
specifically about like, Okay, the starters are not good enough,
but now it's like, okay, do you have enough contingencies?
And they do have players that have played, but I'm
one hundred percent with you like that is my focus
is like what happens at center, what happens at left guard?

Speaker 2 (17:52):
How much do you get him a Kai backed in?
And have they done enough.

Speaker 3 (17:54):
Here to improve what was the biggest weakness of the
team last year in my opinion, And and we're going
to find out, like you said right away, you know,
and I you know, and I love what the Broncos did.

Speaker 2 (18:06):
Like this offseason.

Speaker 1 (18:07):
I was probably the best off off season in football.
I think when you tell you, now, look, Drake Greenlaw's
on the wrong side of thirty. He's coming off a
serious injury. They gave him thirty million dollars. It's that's there.
They're risks when you when you make these sort of deals.
But I think they clearly had you know, they clearly
had positions they wanted to address. They wanted that stretch,

(18:30):
you know, the field athletic tight end, they got it.
And Evan Ingram. They wanted some some juice in the backfield.
They got it in R. J. Harvey. You know, they
wanted to provide depth on that front. You know, it's
like everything and then what do they do. They make
arguably one of the strongest rooms in the NFL, even
stronger with Joddy Baron, Like it's just love that. Yeah,
it's the one thing about the Broncos is and I

(18:53):
know it's you know, it's it's I can't say why,
but it's I don't know about Bonick Schet. I know,
I shouldn't say. I just don't know. I don't know.
I don't know if I'm buying it yet, you know,
if I'm if I'm really buying it. Just yeah, and
there's and there's no reason for it other than it

(19:14):
was pretty pretty clunky for a handful of games there.
It was really good looking for a couple of games there.
I'm just not quite sure.

Speaker 3 (19:21):
Yeah, it was clunky until he played the Chargers that
first time and almost started running around. Yeah how many
times that happen to the Chargers, by the way, But
next turns his season around against the Chargers. They obviously
win the game, but like they couldn't keep him in
the pocket. That for remember Jordan Love, Jordan Love was
essentially going to be out of the league, and.

Speaker 1 (19:39):
It was in one half. It was the second half
of that game where just busted coverage after busted coverage
and palms in the air and we're flying home from
Green Bay and the charter going the hell was that?

Speaker 2 (19:51):
Like?

Speaker 3 (19:52):
I literally had players in the Chargers locker room ask
me like, did we just like make that guy's career?

Speaker 2 (19:57):
And I was like maybe.

Speaker 3 (20:00):
I remember, like at the halftime of that game at LAMBA,
I remember having a conversation with Matt Schneidman, who covers
the Packers for us, and I'm really like, are they
sure about this guy? Likely talking about Jordan Love after
the first half, right, the second half happens, he leads
him back and then you.

Speaker 2 (20:13):
Know, the rest is history. You know, playoff run, et cetera.

Speaker 1 (20:17):
So but yeah, going back, I'm sorry, Papa, I was
gonna say, unless you if you have something, I was
gonna say, just kind of going back to the old line.
I think it's also, you know, a signal from the
front office and the running backs they now have populating
that room, you know, And I think even you hear
the way they talk about Rhene Sanders and here's another
guy that's two hundred and twenty, two hundred and twenty
five pounds. You know, they're all two twenty plus. I mean,

(20:37):
now she's two forty, for God's sake. So it's clear
there's this shift and they want these guys going this
way and not this way. And that's something we just
did not see enough of last year.

Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (20:48):
Yeah, the running back room is is really solid. I
mean I think, like I know, there are there are
sections of the fan base that were like running back
at twenty two, and this is Omarion Hampton is going
to be a fan favorite by like week two, Like
he's gonna have one run in the opening game of
the season where he just trucks a safety and people

(21:08):
are and and by by the you know, by week three,
you know, there's gonna be a mari and Hampton jerseys everywhere.
Like I'm just I'm I'm very confident that this guy
is going to be a difference making player. And you know,
you talk about last year right, like they did catch
lightning in a bottle a little bit with JK Dobbins,

(21:29):
But you know, he misses that big stretch of the season.
You know, he played thirteen games, but that those four
games he missed were really big.

Speaker 2 (21:36):
You know, Gus Edwards was battling injuries.

Speaker 3 (21:39):
They didn't really have the two headed monster that they
were that they were hoping for when they when they
signed Gus and JK last year.

Speaker 2 (21:46):
Nor did they.

Speaker 3 (21:47):
Really have that like consistency. But I love the way
this room is fitting together. Like Naje Harris, they bring
in like he is what he is, Like is he
a home run hitter or no, But like sometimes you
need guys that are contact hitters, that are doubles hitters.
You can hand off the ball and they're gonna go
get what's blocked for them, and they're gonna play with
a certain level of physicality and they're gonna be on
the field every week Like it's going to be seventeen games, durability, toughness,

(22:11):
like that's important, and then you go out and get
an explosive guy like Omar and Hampton, and now you're like,
it's not like a Marion Hampton has to come in
and be the number one back right away, like you
can hand it off de Naja Harris and O Marion
Hampton has time. But like it's a different looking backfield.
It's a different looking backfield, and I think it's all
geared towards getting this offense to play within the philosophy

(22:32):
of Jim Harbaugh, Like you want to be able to
physically dominate and if the offensive line there, we'll see,
you know. I think if Mkai Beckton can stay in
the field that right side, it's pretty solid.

Speaker 1 (22:44):
But I think it's been missing right like they've never
been able to run right, Like it's it's we've been
like Myers, you're running left more and that is the
one thing. You know, Zion and Rashaan did a pretty
good job of blocking it up in the run game,
and you saw production to that side. And then even
last year, I know we were just scratching our heads
like why can't they run right? Like what is going
on with this team and now with that pair that

(23:06):
that could certainly dramatically change this this offense and get
some defensive linemen on their heels instead of on their
toes so much, which we've seen for the last it
feels like three four years.

Speaker 2 (23:17):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (23:17):
Well the first question is why can't they run right?
And then later in the season is why are they
still running right?

Speaker 1 (23:21):
Yeah? Exactly exactly right the.

Speaker 2 (23:26):
Way.

Speaker 3 (23:27):
Yeah, So you know, you feel like the run game
is going to be improved just because of what the
backfield is. You know, a Marion Hampton is a guy
that's going to be able to make something out of
nothing in a.

Speaker 2 (23:34):
Big way, very consistently.

Speaker 3 (23:36):
JK did it at times last year, but it's you know,
Amari and Hampton's going to present a completely different animal,
I think in that regard. So I love what they've
done with the running back room. But you know, going
back to something you said earlier that I thought was
a good point, you know, it's a it's a deep roster.
I give them a lot of credit for building a
deep roster, but but where are those blue chips? I
think that's the big question, you know, And and they're

(23:58):
going to need guys to step up into into those positions, right,
Like I think you even look at edge rusher like
last year, you know, it was the strength of the
defense and they built the defense around the edge rushers.
Now you lose Joey Bosa. You know, you still feel
like cloon Mack can be a high level player. But
he's thirty four. You know who's stepping up in that
room like toy Blow two is going to be you know,

(24:18):
starting players.

Speaker 1 (24:19):
You have him ranked pop Popper on the Athletic Another
reason why you should subscribe twenty to number one most
important Players for the upcoming Charger season. Where'd you put
two Lee? Because I would assume he's the top ten, right.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
Yeah, he's fringe eleven.

Speaker 1 (24:31):
Yeah, there you go.

Speaker 2 (24:32):
So, I mean, you know, me, I had four offensive
linemen in the top ten because I'm a psycho.

Speaker 3 (24:36):
But I mean I've watched enough football in my life
to know, like that's how you win football game.

Speaker 1 (24:41):
Yeah, I mean we watched it in Houston. Why it did.
But Tully to me is, you know, and I read it.
I didn't want to make it sound like I did.
And I read the articles. They're great, but I just
remember him kind of being right there and me saying, yeah,
like Tuley's gotta this is Tooley's time though you know
you're you're now the guy. It's ew and Khalil and
we've seen those flashes and the November was it November
October last year where he had the wild production for

(25:04):
a month, like, let's see it, man, because it feels
like it's in there. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (25:08):
So I wonder with Tully, like, because some people have
brought this up to me, like, do you think you know,
if he's if he's become if he becomes a starter
and he's not playing you know, three hundred to four
hundred special team snaps, does that impact you know, his
production because I think I think if they can find
other players, you know, if Kyle Canard takes over, for example,
his special team snaps, it.

Speaker 1 (25:27):
Makes sense that he would, right based on how he's
built in the profile. I mean, it looks like Chris
Rump kind of you know sort of deal, right, a
little bigger. Yeah, well you could say that for just
about anybody. Sorry Chris.

Speaker 3 (25:40):
Yes, yeah, so you know I wonder, you know, obviously
he has this opportunity to take over this number two
role and be a starter. You know, can they afford
to take some special teams off his plate so that
he's fresher on defense. And what does that mean for
you know, his production? And you know, obviously like he
produced last year, I don't know if like I think

(26:00):
it was eight and a half sacks, nine sacks something
like that. Yeah, I don't think he really played at
that level consistently. I actually thought his tape was better
as a rookie than a second year player. But I
could I could see an argument otherwise. So you know,
can can you get the consistent down to down, you know,
pass rush productivity from him with an increased roll on

(26:21):
defense and maybe maybe taking some of that special teams
off his plate with other younger players moving into that role.

Speaker 1 (26:26):
I mean, geez, poor Ryan ficken Man, just his his
special team's got absolutely rated this offseason. But I think
also credit to Geortiz is you know, you bring Troy
Die back, and you you know, it looked like a
lot of these picks, you know, especially Mickens and Bridges
and Canard, like it feels like, okay, I can see, yeah,

(26:49):
these guys absolutely fit that profile. Dean Leonard still on
the team, John Taylor, I believe, Yeah, they're up there,
both still on the team, so at least you still
have some core for stalwarts you know out there that
that can help. I think you know a guy that
I could totally see being one of those core four guys,
and it's just such fun tape to watch the splash
plays is Steve Oklotts. You know, Yeah, that's that Guy's

(27:10):
got Ryan Ficken written all over him. Is like probably
his favorite player that we're going to see when these
OTAs in training camp gets rolling.

Speaker 3 (27:18):
Yeah yeah, I don't know if he's gonna make the
fifty three, but that's a guy to circle for the
practice squad that's gonna get an elevation in like week
six and play a bunch of special team snaps.

Speaker 2 (27:30):
I loved his film.

Speaker 3 (27:31):
It's like he's he's really he's not like a big dude,
but he just gets after it in the run game.
And now, like you understand why, like jam is bringing
up Steve O. Klatts's press conference when you go watch
his tape, because you know, you can line up at
h back, tight end, full back and he gets downhill
and he gets after people in the run game, So like,
you know, he's a guy absolutely you could see called
up and and uh, you know, make an impact on

(27:53):
special teams in the game middle of the season when
they're battling some injuries and you know, maybe play ten
to twelve snaps on offense. But I mean that's the
life going back to Ryan Ficken, you know, that's the
life of a special teams coach.

Speaker 1 (28:05):
Man.

Speaker 3 (28:05):
I mean it's every year you got turnover and you're
piecing it together and you're getting young guys that, oh, yeah,
I played a ton of special teams in college, and
then they come in and they're raw and you got it,
you know, right, and you gotta.

Speaker 2 (28:16):
Figure it out.

Speaker 3 (28:17):
And you know that's why I think, you know, I
think it's unfortunate that special teams coaches do get looked
over a little bit when you're talking about you know,
head coaching hirings and interviews and stuff like that.

Speaker 2 (28:27):
Like there's no.

Speaker 3 (28:28):
Coach outside of the head coach on the roster that
has to be more familiar with the entire roster than
special teams coaches because they have to look under every
rock and every nook and cranny to find guys that
they think can play consistent football for them.

Speaker 2 (28:42):
And Ryan Picken has done a really good job.

Speaker 3 (28:44):
But I think that was a little bit of a
part of what happened last year, you know, especially on
the punt unit. You know, I don't think JK. Scott
had a good season, but there were so many pieces
rotating through there, you know, guys off the practice squad
and waivers and you know, and they had so many
injuries there early in the season, between Jah and Dean
Leonard at a hamstring and Nick Neeman you know, missed

(29:04):
the first four games of the season. So it's going
to be interesting to see, like how some of these
young guys, some of these rookies, you know, impact special
teams because ultimately, like it does matter when you know,
obviously the plays themselves. We're talking about Tooley, right, like, yeah,
he if they're they're going to take special team snaps
off his plate, somebody has to take those on and
they have to be close to as good.

Speaker 2 (29:25):
As Tooley is, right, so really good, right.

Speaker 3 (29:28):
So, and if they don't have somebody that can take
those snaps, then all of a sudden, Tuley has to
play three hundred and fifty special team snaps and then
you watch, you wonder how that affects his his defense.
So it all sort of pairs together, but I do
want to say that special teams coaches deserve a little
bit more love.

Speaker 1 (29:42):
And then you're going, let's see, I'm just going to
kind of go into the who's still available in the
edge market out there? Von Miller? You want a thirty
six year old Von Miller who made twenty million bucks?
Matt Judaan, I know we've talked about him, But for
Zadarias Smith, Preston Smith, You'davi and Clowney. I mean, there's

(30:04):
still guys out there, and I think that may be
that that's something probably to.

Speaker 2 (30:09):
Keep an eye on and go and go with five.

Speaker 1 (30:11):
Just yeah, I think if Thicken's like, hey, dude, these
guys aren't ready, we got to keep tu Lee out there,
and then you just kind of take a little bit
off his plate and you can go pluck like they
did with Bud. Whether they give him nine million year,
I think, you know, kind of a little bit later
and in that second.

Speaker 2 (30:26):
I think it was total nine million.

Speaker 1 (30:28):
It was two years yea two years nine. So that's
interesting thing that that could make sense if if it's
not working. The one just kind of speaking to that,
the the Steve Oclots and like the back end there.
Like so many people. When they they signed him as
a priority undrafted free agent, We're like, oh, Rahem Sanders,

(30:49):
and I was like, slow down, you got a son.
Haskins is a special team stalwart and short yards back.
He's making the team. You just drafted Hampton, You've got
Najie Harris, they just drafted Kamani Videll last year. And
then I started watching a little bit more Rahiem Sanders,
and then I started listening to the coach and then
we talked to Geortiz last week and you just saw
his face light up when he was talking about Oz

(31:09):
at the South Carolina game when we were in Charlotte,
and then I busted this run and I was like
that's and I'm like, Okay, I think this guy might
he might be pushing, you know, if they feel like
he can fill that role with a little more explosiveness.
Then I just think Haskins, to me, was one of
the more underappreciated players last year because of how much
he did on special teams and pass pro and when

(31:31):
he had to be a fullback, he was a full bed.
There was just a lot there and I was like,
I can't see them moving on from him.

Speaker 3 (31:36):
Yeah, if you're if you're a running back trying to
make it in the league, go look at Hassan Haskins.
And if you can play that style, and you can
and you can play a ton on special teams, and
you can tackle, and you can be athletic and physical
in that phase, you're going to make a lot of
rosters as a third running back because you just need
that flex, right, you know, you need that flex deeper
in your running back room. And so I agree, I

(31:59):
think that the spot to watch is the fourth running
back spot. You know, depending on how roster shakes out.
But you know, it's a big, big off season for
command of idell. You know, like like that's one like
the linebacker versus running back one on one pass protection drills,
those periods during training camp. I will be watching very
closely because he obviously has some juice. You know, he

(32:20):
caught that touchdown pass.

Speaker 2 (32:21):
You know.

Speaker 3 (32:22):
The first place the issue is like can he get
to the NFL level in terms of pass protection because
he had a really rough game against the Bucks and
it makes you sort of scratch your head and say, like, okay,
there's a long way to go there with a full
off season. You know, how does he look in terms
of being able to take on linebackers from a physical standpoint,
but also identification things of that.

Speaker 1 (32:41):
Key right there to me is that he's got to
see it.

Speaker 2 (32:44):
It's just it.

Speaker 1 (32:44):
It felt he felt a little bit slower than it
tick slow last year and got to the point where
you know, dangerous and yeah, and so that'll be yeah, fourth,
fourth running back versus seventh wide receiver is just I
know they did it out of training camp last year
with Brendan Rice. I just can't see it this year.

Speaker 2 (33:05):
I'll never forget that money. I'll never forget that.

Speaker 1 (33:08):
Yeah, I'll never forget that.

Speaker 2 (33:10):
That's right.

Speaker 1 (33:11):
Did we talk you out of it?

Speaker 2 (33:12):
Yes?

Speaker 1 (33:13):
Yes, I talked you out of it. I was like
Aaryan seven wide receivers, You're crazy, Pop. It was the
last the last we were in the booth.

Speaker 2 (33:20):
Yeah. We were at annual, Yeah my annual?

Speaker 1 (33:23):
Or were we in Dallas? Were we in Dallas?

Speaker 3 (33:25):
Or were we Honestly, I can't I can't remember exactly
where we were in the booth. For the final preseason game,
I was like set, I had my fifty three set.
I was like, I'm going seven receivers. No one's going
to convince me otherwise, I'm taking the best fifty three.
These seven receivers have all earned a spot. I like
had my my logic was all ironed out, and I
went and DJ was like, no shot.

Speaker 1 (33:47):
No shot, damn.

Speaker 2 (33:48):
Like this guy worked with Joe, Yeah he might, like
he's got to know.

Speaker 3 (33:52):
And then I got moved off my spot and I
will never happen again.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
What you did? You put Traman Morris Brash in there.
I think instead as the U as the I can't.

Speaker 2 (34:00):
Remember I did something that I regret.

Speaker 1 (34:03):
I'm gonna say it again. I don't think they carry
seven out. I just don't. I don't. I don't see it.
It's yeah, you know, it's it's the two rookies. It's
Mike Williams Quinton you know obviously, lad and figure it out. Man.

Speaker 3 (34:20):
I have six right now, So I have my running
fifty three going already because again I'm a psycho, so
I've already.

Speaker 2 (34:25):
Because it's it's just a good way.

Speaker 3 (34:26):
It's good to get the process started early, so just
so you can see, like, okay, where are the pressure points,
like where the competition is sort of going to be
shaping up.

Speaker 2 (34:34):
So I have six right now, lad Trey Harris, R.

Speaker 3 (34:38):
KLS, Mike Williams, Darius, and then I have Quintin in
right now.

Speaker 2 (34:42):
But like this is a big off season for Quentin too.

Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yeah, Like they took two guys that can play your position,
you know, like in theory, if you put Mike at X,
like it could be Trey Harris at Z could be
KLS and Z right, so, and and Quentin can't play X,
Like that's it's not it's not gonna happen at this point.

Speaker 1 (34:59):
I think it's clear based on who they signed and
who they drafted, and and then you look at the tryout,
Like I said, the fact that they then signed you know,
Dale Von Campbell, who's another six', four two hundred and you,
know five pound outside. Receiver it's like clearly there was a.
Type you, know there was, speed and there was, size
and there were guys that PLAYED x and you know in.

(35:22):
College and SO i think you're, Right like it's For.
Quentin you, KNOW i feel LIKE i always feel bad
talking about it because by all, accounts great, guy hard,
worker you, know all of those, things and typically that
when you're a first round, pick that goes a long.
Way you're not a, Jerk you're not you, know you're not,

(35:42):
complaining you're not slacking trying to get. Better it's just
those you, know you have The raider game in week
whatever it was week, eighteen, right and then and then
you have the playoff, game and it's, like, uh which
which is? It you? Know so, Yeah I'M i struggled
to BECAUSE i could tight end AND i, see you,
know obviously four and you know With, Disley, Conkling gadsden And,

(36:07):
fisk all four of those guys are making.

Speaker 3 (36:09):
It and you, know, YEAH i mean you could you
could like potentially Stash fisk on the on the practice.

Speaker 1 (36:15):
SQUAD i just thought he was, good he was no.

Speaker 3 (36:19):
But how many, teams how many teams in the league
are looking for that skill, set you, know, right and
maybe more than in the past because the teams are
starting to run the ball a little bit, more but.

Speaker 1 (36:28):
Right and then it comes down To Matt locke and
that development and they've invested so much there and the
idea that they're just going to be, like, yeah, well you,
Know fisk can fill that role and that's how you
save that spot. There but it just feels like you,
know between how coaches talked about him and how much
they've invested in trying to get him to be a full,
back and the fact that he did gradually get better

(36:48):
week after week toward the end of the, year it
would feel weird that they would just kind of throw that.

Speaker 2 (36:52):
Aside, Yeah AND i mean the flexibility is, great.

Speaker 3 (36:55):
Right you stash him on the roster and you play
him at defensive tackle and he'll give you functional. Player
you can play them on offense And i'll give you functional, play.
Right even you can can play on special. Teams you,
know he's playing on the kick return unit last year
with the new kickoff, role so, RIGHT i am curious,
though like is it gonna be the same role as
last year or if he, doesn't or if he's on the,

(37:16):
roster is it going to be like an offense.

Speaker 1 (37:18):
ONLY i, mean what do they. Say they preach it
all the time with every, position, right just flexibility much
how much flexibility means for, them you? Know and and
the fact that you, know like you Heard Jesse minner
talk about it with, corners with, SAFETIES i want my
best five on the. FIELD i don't care what position they're.

(37:39):
PLAYING i want them on the field and you heard
that with offensive, Line, well we Think zion can play,
Center bradley can play. Guard we love the flexibility at
tray and it's like it's a team that preaches that
all the, time and so you, Know Matt, LOCKE i
know it's a little bit, different but, yeah between special
team snaps offense, SNAPS i mean you can you can

(37:59):
get worn down pretty quickly. There it'll be interesting to
see if he is going to be a full time
fullback and if they're going to run those packages all
the time like it felt like they did last year
with this bigger. Backfield that's it's way too early to
go through the fifty. THREE i didn't mean to take
that direction, here but it just gets fun doing. IT
i love, that you, KNOW i know we talk about
it all the. Time i'm sure you already have your

(38:20):
preliminary fifty three sitting in front of you that you're constantly.

Speaker 3 (38:23):
MOVING i, do, well it's fifty four right, now just
BECAUSE i haven't like narrowed it, down BUT i do
have like a running kind just BECAUSE i want to, see, like,
okay where if we're going to be making.

Speaker 2 (38:31):
Decisions, here like what are the.

Speaker 3 (38:32):
Decisions you, Know i'm really curious, about, like you, know
the corner, room how the corner room and so.

Speaker 1 (38:37):
WHAT i was just it's, FUNNY i was just looking
at that as we're. Talking i've got it here in
front of, me and you, know the one name that
obviously jumps out and again Sorry Ryan, fickett It's John. Taylor,
Right it's, like where where does joh fit into? This
when it felt like he kind of lost his position
last year and kind of took a step back on

(38:57):
the depth chart after being given an. Opportunity the weird
thing for me last year was just that we didn't
see More Dean, leonard you, know based on sort of
what we saw from him in camp and in some
of those preseason, games that he wasn't a guy that
got some more.

Speaker 2 (39:10):
Reps, yeah, No i'm with.

Speaker 3 (39:11):
YOU i loved WHAT i saw From Dean, leonard specifically
in the preseason. Games he made a couple of plays
that were really really. Impressive, SO i, mean here's the
thing With. Jah he had a pretty significant injury In
week one of last, year and he played through, it
and you got to give him credit for playing through.
IT a lot of guys would not have played through
the injury that he, had AND i think that really,
affected you, know how he was able to. Play you
saw he was in and, out constantly getting worked on

(39:34):
on the. Sideline you, KNOW i was expecting a big
jump from, him and you, KNOW i think the injury
kind of derailed his. Season BUT i think when you
when you talk About josh specifically with this year's fifty,
three this year's, roster he can play well in the.
Slot he showed us that he can play well at,
nickel AND i think you kind of need that with
the way the room is set up right. Now Obviously
drwin's going to be playing a lot in the, slot

(39:55):
but After, derwin It's tarheb, right and then it's, like,
okay where's your you, know where's your depth? There which
is WHY i, think you, Know jock potentially have a
route to fifty three because you look at the rest
of the, Guys Cam hart outside Only Dante jackson is
an outside, Guy Benjamin saint ju just, Outside Dean leonard.
Outside Tar heeb can obviously play. Both jah has played,

(40:15):
both but has played as better football as a as
a nickel, Player so that.

Speaker 2 (40:20):
Would be my only.

Speaker 3 (40:21):
Reason you, know they do have some some of these
undrafted free agents that project as potential nickel. Guys, yeah
but that would be my only point On John.

Speaker 1 (40:31):
Taylor, yeah it's and again IT'S i think you said,
it and everybody really picked on him last, year you,
know and and it's it's not. Fair he easily could
have just SAID i can't do it and and not
been out there and and avoided all of. That the
defensive line, group, AGAIN i DON'T i feel like that's pretty.

(40:53):
SETTLED i can't imagine them unless it's the whole special
teams thing With. TULEY i don't think there's an interior
alignment that they're gonna go, pluck you, know if he
gets cut. SOMEWHERE i feel like they're kind of settled.
There we've heard a lot about a boyg bee and
putting on that twenty pounds of, muscle and we were
told he was a developmental player last year and not
to you know that this is someone who's, raw And

(41:13):
elston's gonna work with him and have some, patience and you,
know by all accounts that's exactly how it played. Out
AND i mean you saw, him you're out there at phase.
Two does he look a lot different than he did last.
Year he looks, bigger.

Speaker 3 (41:27):
But, yeah we'll see when the pads come. On you,
know that's sort of Where i'm. At but you, KNOW
i think it's LIKE i guess the POINT i would
make is like in the, past when we talked through
the roster like this at this. Stage you, know under
previous regimes you're talking about, Like, okay this guy has
to make a, jump like this guy is, starting and
if he doesn't make a, jump they have nothing behind.
Him WHAT i WHAT i appreciate about what this regime

(41:48):
does is you have so many contingencies built in where
like If justin And boygbe makes a, jump, Great if he,
doesn't you have other options as far as guys that can,
play WHICH i think the big difference THAT i see
between how these two regimes are pro roster.

Speaker 1 (42:03):
Building, yeah, no that's fair. Point you know it's nake One.
Jones it's To sean. Hand obviously we saw Tier tart
was a you, know rotational get him in there on
passing downs only, player and, man he just. Flashed he just,
like get that guy more snaps and and same thing With.
Poona the way you, know the thought going into the
season when he was signed of what he might be

(42:23):
compared to what he. Became one of the things that
was interesting with with the conversation that that you know
we had with with Coach minter was you, know him,
saying you, know the fact that everybody wants to pigeonhole
us is his own D it's just who we. Had he's,
LIKE i would much rather be able to play more, man.

Speaker 2 (42:40):
It's still who they have. Though.

Speaker 1 (42:42):
YEAH i, think, WELL i think that's sort of the
that's sort of the you, know the The Saint, juice
the the the traits based kind of idea of can
you get these big bridges as a traits sort of,
guy can you coach them up to a point where
we saw them coach up to guys saying you, know,
Look Cam harr played really well on the outside when
he was, healthy AND i did not see that on

(43:04):
That Notre dame film at.

Speaker 2 (43:06):
All LIKE i w key part of that statement, though
is one, healthy.

Speaker 1 (43:09):
Right and that's BUT i Just i'm speaking to the
coaching when they're given a guy with these sort of
traits and, like, hey we can coach them into, this
and we, can but you're, RIGHT i, MEAN i DON'T
i don't see a press. Man put him on the
island and we're good if we can we can kind
of take everything else and worry about. IT i don't
see that on this.

Speaker 3 (43:27):
Team, yeah but it's also, LIKE i, mean you're also
obviously you're playing into what you.

Speaker 2 (43:30):
Have but you, know Like tarivs still like he's.

Speaker 3 (43:33):
Going to be at his best when he's playing in
a lot of his own. Coverage like he's very an
instinctive players great when he can see it and drive
down you.

Speaker 2 (43:43):
Know so, YEAH i get where he's coming.

Speaker 3 (43:45):
FROM i, MEAN i think every defensive coordinator would love
you know, too all pro corners in the outside and
you play man all the. Time, yeah but free everybody up,
Right BUT i think like the way that, LIKE i
don't think the room is different this year where they're
all of a sudden going to be playing a ton
of man.

Speaker 1 (43:59):
Cover now that that would have to be something that gets.
Plucked and, again premium. Position rarely do those guys become,
available and you're not going, to like you, said go
out and find a guy that's that you're comfortable putting
out there on an island and changing the way you.
Play the one thing that THAT i, that you, know
AND i should do a better job of pushing your

(44:19):
your top twenty BECAUSE i believe he was in there
IF i remember. Right But Junior colson is a Big,
yeah he's a HUGE x factor because of What dayon.
Did AND i was having this conversation with O'Neil this
week just how it's funny that you look at how
much money some of these off ball linebackers got because
the market was so, thin and you're, like damn they got,
that you, know that kind of, Scratch and here The

(44:43):
chargers could go into the season with arguably the best
room in the. League If colson's what we think he could,
become And dayon takes that step To Pro, bowl all pro,
level it could really end up being the strength of this. Defense.

Speaker 3 (44:56):
Yeah SO i had both of those guys in my top.
TWENTY i had Day on at number. SIX i just
kept inching him, up LIKE i THINK i had him at.
Ten But i'm just, like, man there's so much left
in the tank for. Him you, like he was really
good last, year but you think about some of those
ops he had for you, know interception, sacks like the
sack like if he makes that sack On Patrick mahomes
against The chiefs late in the, season right on the final,

(45:19):
play like he played really really. Well but if he
starts making some of these plays that were on the
table for, him you, know what level can he get?
To AND i just kept inching him, up AND i
feel like he's going to be really really. Important he's
gonna be the green dot signal. Caller he's you, know
if that one linebacker that's playing in all packages including
dime is really really important to your.

Speaker 2 (45:37):
Defense SO i agree with you.

Speaker 3 (45:38):
There and THEN i Had junior at eighteen of my
rankings BECAUSE i think if this defense gets to the
level that they wanted to get, to it's going to
be dayon and it's going to Be junior and those
guys are going to be the. Starters and you Have
denzel as as in troidae as. Depth BUT, i you,
KNOW i go back TO i feel like we're watching
that practice together money during training, camp or he got

(45:58):
into eleven on eleven for the time and they were
doing the nine on seven run and he just blew
up a play in the backfield AND i was and we.

Speaker 2 (46:06):
Looked at each other and we're like, yep, yeah all,
Right and.

Speaker 3 (46:09):
Like my opinion hasn't, changed like just because he had
a couple of injuries and like his rickitis through training,
camp right and then the ankle injury during the. Season
but like every TIME i think, About, okay What's Junior
colson going to, BE i think about that one play
from training, camp And i'm, Like.

Speaker 2 (46:21):
Okay that's what that's what he can.

Speaker 1 (46:23):
Be and And i'm not saying He's Patrick. Willis WHAT
i am saying is when you were on a football
field standing Watching Patrick, Willis you're, like look at that freaking. Guy,
yeah That's. Colson. Man when you're standing there and you
see that lower, Half you're, like my, god and he's
moving like, That like that's the sort of Physical AND
i think it's, interesting you know that that for all

(46:45):
of the attention that those d lines get In San,
francisco it's hard to Ignore Drake Green lawn And Fred,
warner you, Know Patrick, Willison Navarro, Bowman like how important
that level of the defense, is you, know and was
and and sort of got overlooked because all these teams
started spreading it out and running eleven and you had
to get speed out. There and now just feels like
it's it's swinging back and you're gonna have to have you,

(47:08):
know two linebackers out, there and who know who, knows
maybe three in the next couple of. Years it's going
to get back to.

Speaker 2 (47:13):
That back to the base, Defenses, vagas that's real.

Speaker 1 (47:16):
Football, exactly back to some base defense with how these
teams are running it. Now BUT i do think that
THAT'S i love seeing both of those guys in there
BECAUSE i do think that you, Know ashton genty on
the on The raiders and with the you, know the
older That mahomes gets and just sort of you, know
running games are going to become more and more, PREVALENT i,

(47:37):
think and having those linebackers going to go a long.

Speaker 3 (47:39):
Way, yeah it's a cycloker nation, click circular, nation circular,
nation Cyclical i'm.

Speaker 2 (47:45):
Trying i'm combining circular and.

Speaker 3 (47:46):
Circular, yeah, cyclic the circular nature of like offensive foot
OR i guess like schematics in general in THE.

Speaker 2 (47:53):
Nfl but you know what's really interesting is the.

Speaker 3 (47:55):
Parallels Between dayon's career and Potentially Junior coulson's. Career Right
deayon came, in you, know pulled his hamstring in that preseason,
game was out had a tough time cracking the lineup
after that with. Injuries he comes out in year two
and obviously has a breakout. Season Junior, coulson you, know

(48:16):
misses time and OTAs with an injury appendck to, me you,
know ir with an ankle.

Speaker 2 (48:22):
Injury you know when he.

Speaker 3 (48:23):
Was on the, field had a tough time really sort
of you, know transitioning and acclimating to the speed of
THE nfl. Game now he heads into year two after
a rookie season that was kind of. Derailed does he
follow the same path As. DAYAN i think there's reason
to believe that that's like a potential.

Speaker 2 (48:38):
Outcome.

Speaker 1 (48:39):
YEAH i don't see any reason why. Not you, KNOW
i felt like he was in the conversation as the
best linebacker on the draft last. Year he was the
arguably the most important player on a national championship. Team
and it never. Fails it was, like, oh, gosh Justin Justin, Jackson,
right a guy that never missed a freaking play in
his college career gets to THE nfl and is just

(49:02):
perennially injured and hopefully that is obviously not the. Kid
those two things could be. Related, yeah, yeah very. True,
yeah you're out there for a lot of. Snaps you
take a lot of hits and next thing you, know, it's,
uh it's. Over did we miss anything anything? Else that
is just kind OF i, know it's going to be
a lot of. Easier only get Into OTA's and you,
know stuff's going to get a little bit more clear

(49:22):
and we'll have a little bit more to talk about.

Speaker 2 (49:24):
AFTER i, see if you talk about the, quarterback what
do you want to say? Where so here's WHERE i.
WROTE i obviously he number.

Speaker 1 (49:32):
Number, one Guy mac was your number, TWO i remember. That,
yeah three Was.

Speaker 2 (49:36):
Durwin, yeah and then But Kai backton was number five
by the.

Speaker 1 (49:40):
Way, yeah you Had hampton in the top ten IF
i remember right. TOO i think he was. Twelve he was, Twelve, Okay.

Speaker 3 (49:46):
YEAH i had him like fringe top. Ten Oh, lad that's,
Right lad was In lad was Fo yeah.

Speaker 2 (49:50):
Obviously.

Speaker 3 (49:50):
YEAH i, mean So ladd is, like what is he
going to be able to do when he actually has
other pieces around?

Speaker 1 (49:56):
Him?

Speaker 2 (49:56):
Right, like what are we talking about?

Speaker 1 (49:58):
Here he like not terrified that he's gonna get blown
to shreds because he's taken so many freaking targets and
hits every game.

Speaker 3 (50:04):
EXACTLY i mean he had hit one hundred and ninety
seven yards in That texans game and he's getting triple. Covered,
yeah you, know it's like it's it's easy to let
your imagination run wild there as far as what what
sort of he can. Be but, YEAH i mean with
here's WHAT i wrote With, justin like they got to
get back to the. Playoffs but like the only talking
point Around Justin herbert is going to Be kenny won
a playoff. Game until he wins a playoff, Game like

(50:24):
that's that's become what it. Is some of it is
fair and some of it's. NOT i think the way
that they lost the two playoff games that he played,
in you, know especially In houston where he played like
WHAT i think was you, know the worst game of his.
Career but that's sort of. It the big point THAT
i came back, to, though was like stay, Healthy like
that's got to be priority number. One that's the most important,
Thing like be out there for all of training camp

(50:46):
and and you, know avoid some of these. Hits carolina
game that's a perfect, example, right like that ball out exactly.
Exactly SO i think he has to get to a
point where he realizes that his availability and being something
close to one hundred percent over the course of a
season is like the most important, thing you, know BECAUSE

(51:09):
i think that you, know it has a cascading. Effect you,
know when the starting quarterback with a new regime and
a new offense and all these new, pieces misses three
weeks of training camp and then by week two is you,
know toughing it out with his high ankle. Sprain that
affected everything about the. Offense it affected what they were
able to, Run it affected the, chemistry it affected the,
performance all of. It so that's the key thing for,

(51:32):
me be on the field all of training, camp avoid
some of these injuries that seem a little bit, avoidable
and see if you can get this thing to coalestion
a way that it didn't really last.

Speaker 1 (51:43):
Season, Yeah AND i think to, me part of that
is AND i know some people might think it's, counterintuitive
but it's. NOT i, mean the data bear out that,
run get out, there get, this get defenses on their
heels a little bit more so they're not teeing off
on you on what was a little bit of a
soft interior of the offensive. Line you, know take off

(52:04):
and have, them you, know plant seeds of doubt in their,
brains so they don't have their ears pinned back and
they're constantly just firing off the line of. Scrimmage and,
look a lot of that is that high ankle sprain
and health and not being able to run as much
as you. Want but we know how good he is at,
it and you, know when you're calling a game from
the seventh, level it's easier to see it for us

(52:25):
than maybe it is for. Him but how many of
those mesh points where we're, like, oh just if you
just keep, it, man it's right, there there's fifteen twenty
yards waiting for you and you're not gonna get. Touched you,
know there's five seven yards you're not gonna get. Touched
AND i feel, like especially with zero rushing attempts in
the wild card, game it's, like that's that's got to

(52:48):
become a to, me a much bigger part Even and it's,
this we say the same, thing just sprinkle it. In
it's not the identity of the, offense but it's it's a,
weapon and it's a weapon that defenses have to prepare.
For but you've got to do it exactly a couple you,
know you got to do. It you got to be
good at it a few times a, game and that's

(53:09):
all it, is.

Speaker 3 (53:10):
Exactly it's not necessarily the. Production it's the. Threat that's what's. Important,
Yeah but, slide.

Speaker 1 (53:16):
Yes, slide get out of, bounds don't take on linebackers,
yet get.

Speaker 2 (53:20):
Down we know you're capable of doing. It you don't
need to see it. Again.

Speaker 1 (53:23):
Yeah, Yeah and that's and and that's the other thing,
too is like when you're running a mesh With amari
And hampton and and he's you, know in this run
game is now working and everyone's biting on. That my,
gosh the opportunities they're going to be there compared to
years past and what the running game. Was if this
running game can be what it, is that's we had
a question on one of them AND i was, like,
oh what Can justin do? Better AND i, said, look

(53:45):
we're nitpick and It's Justin. Herbert he's incredible at. EVERYTHING i.
Said but if it's one, thing, YEAH i think you
just got to keep that ball a little bit more
on those on those option plays and and take off
because it's. There and if it's, THERE i assume you're
seeing it in, film you, know later in the, week
and it's like, dude just take a few of. Those
AND i think that that Helps Greg roman out a.

(54:06):
Lot and that's the other thing With, roman for all
the incoming he, Took like just think about what he
did With Will disley and what he's done in his
career with these tight. Ends and now you bring In,
conklin WHO i know Isn't George kittle Or Sam, laporta
but he's a good receiving tight end with really good,
hands and he's a really good red zone. Target and
now you bring in an athlete Like Arondez gadsden and, Like,

(54:28):
okay now you feel like with these big, Backs greg's
got some things he can cook with And i'm anxious
to see what he's able to do with. It.

Speaker 3 (54:35):
Yeah, YEAH i imagine we're going to see a much
more explosive, offense you, know both in the run game
and obviously the pass. Game you, know they just what
they what they were. Missing last year in the passing
game was, like, okay nothing's. Open you, know they got
caught with a you, know man beater against his Own, look,
okay what happens?

Speaker 2 (54:53):
Now where can justin go with the football and.

Speaker 3 (54:56):
He needs that, option just let him chuck it down the,
sideline you, know one on one to somebody that can go
make a, play, right and they just like didn't have
that guy last. Year, obviously they bring back the guy
that's done it for The chargers better than anybody In Mike.
Williams but Like Trey harris is that type of, Guy,
like give him an option when everything sort of breaks
down to use his arm, talent throw it downfield and

(55:16):
maybe you're able to make some fifty to fifty plays
that they weren't able to make last.

Speaker 1 (55:19):
Year. YEAH i just you, know you think about The
houston game and you, know he chucks that ball down
To quinton and you could see at the second that
left his, Hand you're, like this is this is? Terrible
like this is you, know this is this is not.
IT i don't The quinton was not even turned around.
Yet he was just kind of running straight like you,
know THE dB is already reading. IT i think it
was lasted or IF i remember, right and it was

(55:40):
just like this is now what are we? Doing? Yeah
and so you get a guy Like mike And Trey
harris that we've, seen you, know it was supposed to
BE Dj shark last, year and it just, wasn't and
so it's, Yeah and that's the thing With mike. Two
he's you, know now you're now you're two years removed
from an. Injury that for a guy that, size that

(56:02):
needs that explosiveness to be what he, is that's two years.
REMOVED i think that's gonna go a long. Way then
one year removed from a guy that's in his whatever
it was seventh, day ninth. Season so.

Speaker 3 (56:13):
Yeah, also you're going from a quarterback who says you
have to be on the red line to make the
catch versus a quarterback And Justin herbert who's like doing
What mike, asks which is.

Speaker 2 (56:22):
Just throw it up. There. Bro, yeah like throw it up.

Speaker 3 (56:25):
There And justin is not afraid to do that To Mike,
williams and no chemistry is already built, In like it's
the proof of concept is. There you don't have to imagine.
It just, go you, know pull up Some Mike williams
highlights and you'll see.

Speaker 1 (56:35):
It AND i would say to that, gentleman if he's
not out of the red, line just throw it to
the red line then instead of four yards behind, him
because you didn't throw it to the red line, Either so, whatever,
whatever you were looking for and whatever you were, doing
it just did not. Compute all. RIGHT i think that's,
uh it's probably. Good appreciate, it, dude that.

Speaker 2 (56:52):
Was, fine, Absolutely thanks for having.

Speaker 1 (56:54):
Me give it to me. Again Subtect hops.

Speaker 2 (56:57):
And pop dot substack dot. Com you can go sign
up for free with your, email get access to all
of the live.

Speaker 3 (57:03):
Streams all the recaps are on, there and then you
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you get your podcast to Search hops And pop.

Speaker 2 (57:11):
And it'll be.

Speaker 3 (57:11):
There we're doing a stream, tonight so they'll be a
new episode out tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (57:15):
Morning, yeah right, On, yeah do that and then subscribe
To The. Athletic it's great. Stuff always appreciate, it, man
you're the.

Speaker 2 (57:21):
Best appreciate. It thanks for having me, money all.

Speaker 1 (57:24):
Right we'll be back next week OTAs and likely another.
COORDINATOR i think we're chasing down Either Greg roman Or
Ryan ficken since we already got Coach minter out of the,
way so we get one of those two next, Week
so be sure to keep an eye out Next thursday Slash,
friday depending on how you're consuming. This appreciate y'all like
rate review out of. Comment we always try to engage
with those on YouTube as. Well thanks again To Daniel

(57:47):
popper and thanks for Watching charge a weekly