Chargers Weekly: Breaking Down Initial 53-Man Roster

On this episode of Chargers Weekly, Bolts radio play-by-play announcer Matt “Money” Smith, host Chris Hayre, and former Chargers safety Jahleel Addae recap the latest news involving LA and the entire NFL. The hosts discuss the initial 53-man roster release, analyzing the decision to sign defensive back Tony Jefferson to the practice squad, celebrating linebacker Marlowe Wax and cornerback Nikko Reed as undrafted rookies that made the initial roster, and breaking down the strengths of running backs Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris. Presented by Splitero.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Laden ten touched up. What's up? Guys, Welcome into a
brand new episode of Chargers Weekly. We are presented by
Splintero as always, joined by the voice of the Chargers
Matt Muddy Smith and our guy Jalila Died joining us

(00:21):
today and gentlemen, it's all about the fifty three men roster.
A lot of surprises, a lot of directions. We can
go Jalel, when you first saw it, what stood out
to you?

Speaker 2 (00:32):
Man?

Speaker 3 (00:33):
It's crazy because we were talking about it. Chris and
I thought that Tony Jefferson was going to be a
for sure lock. We've seen that obviously r J mckens.
He had a beast of a preseason. We knew that
he would be locked. But the biggest surprise for me
was Kenda Williamson. Throughout the preseason, he was a really
good shirt tackler and I would I remember saying to myself, Man,
he's having a really strong case of, you know, making

(00:55):
this roster. But I didn't think that he would sir
past Tony Jefferson. So that was the biggest one for me. Obviously,
Tony Jefferson signback on the practice squad, but I thought
Tony did enough to make the initial fifty three no
slate to Kendall because he had a solid preseason as well.

Speaker 4 (01:12):
Yeah, I had a gut feeling that he was gonna
make it. He's been an exceptional special teams player. We
know how important Ryan Ficken is into this process, especially
when you're talking about players forty five through fifty three.
And even though Tony was playing special teams. Uh, personally,
you know, I thought Kendall might and I think Kendall's
probably fifty three. I think he had gotten claimed. I

(01:36):
don't think there's any any doubt. You love smart safeties
and you can just see it in the way he
plays that he sees it, he diagnoses it. He's there
in a hurry. You said it. Jalil, He's a sure tackler.
We saw him in limited action last year, so we
know how much they like him. You know, he's a
guy that was elevated from the practice squad. And I

(01:56):
think when you look at the waiverclaim, you know what
do you see? You see a mountain of defensive backs.
Those are the guys that end up getting claimed more
than anyone else. And to me, I think that's what
you know some people And then Jalil I know for
you it's it's a different sort of feeling. I would
imagine you do everything, you feel good, you want to

(02:17):
make that fifty three. But to me it's I think
a lot of the calculus for the way they did
the fifty three. The way they did it was who
can we sneak through? And I think they probably knew.
I think Tony's not going to sign as a free
agent anywhere else. We can get him back and we'll
kind of lay this out for him, and Williamson will
get claimed, Nico will get claimed. You know, Eric Rodgers

(02:38):
even might get claimed. With the ink. Let's just keep
all those dbs and we'll roll the dice with our
offensive lineman, you know, Branson Taylor will roll the dice
with Tony, Jefferson, the older eleven year vet, you know,
with Nahem Hines, with those kind of players. Now Rocket
got claimed. We can get into that in a minute,
but I think that's probably what went into that. If
we put if we put Kendall on the on waivers,

(03:01):
someone's going to pick him up and we want him.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
Jillill, I wonder if it because it played out the
same way for Tony as last year, and he was
just trying to, you know, kind of get back into
the league, and he talked about just how he got
progressively better last year. I wonder if it, you know,
and I don't know, we'd have to ask Tony, but like,
did he want to go anywhere else? Was the practice
squad a likely destination for him because it led to

(03:28):
the same results last year of him playing a lot
down on the stretch when guys went down.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, that's a great question, and only Tony would know that.

Speaker 3 (03:34):
But me knowing Tony, he's you know, as the San
Diego native, lives here in Powaway. You know, eleven year
vet family is comfortable, so knows the system obviously, like
front office, he was colleagues of the guys in the
front office at one point in time when he was scouting. So,
like you said, last year, kind of the same road.
And two thousand and twenty is when they first introduced that,

(03:58):
you know, veteran practice squad, and I think it elongated
a lot of guys careers and Tony's one of those guys.
And you know, it works for both the players and
the organizations. And when you look at it, listen, you
can be practice squad, but we know, like anyone else knows,
he can be elevated by week two, week three, week
four and play substantial amount of have a substantial amount

(04:20):
of playing time and deliver, you know, bone crushing heads,
big time plays for this defense.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
So it's different than.

Speaker 3 (04:26):
When before twenty twenty, when practice squad was you know
kind of like ah, I may practice, No, you.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
Make practice squad. Now it's like, look, you can be practice.

Speaker 3 (04:35):
Squad tomorrow and by Sunday you could be upready dressed
and playing a very pivotal you know position for the defense, offense,
or special teams.

Speaker 4 (04:45):
I think we already saw Chris with Eric Rodgers, right,
he makes the initial fifty three and del Sean Phillips doesn't.
Del Seawan is you know, a special team's ace, and
you know, as opposed to someone that's gonna probably get
a lot of rotation at the actual linebacker spot on
the you know, he's going to be that mcnemon sort
of role for for Ryan Ficken. And so they're like, well,

(05:06):
you know, let's not expose Eric Rodgers, let's not expose
Marlo Wax and Ico Reid. We'll roll the dice again,
you know on on del Sean and they immediately sign
him back. And because of the way, you know, it
shows competence in the front office, the way they did
it right, It's like, you know what, we're going to
keep Eric Rodgers. Now we can put them on week

(05:26):
to week ir and you know after this first day
of waivers, now that those are all cleared, now you
can have your little gamesmanship. And it's something I know
it's a different sport, but it's something that Dodgers have
done so effectively. You know, when the new rules were
introduced for how you know, teams could use the injury list. Man,
we made a joke of it ten years ago. We're like, man,

(05:47):
it's the Oklahoma City Express. Dude, you're you're gone for
three days and then you're back two days later. And
and I think that's what we're seeing jo Ortiz and
his staff do is take these new rules where you
can put two players for four games in the case
of Dean Leonard, and I think in the case of Dean,
that's like a Jah Taylor thing. I'm looking at John going, Okay,
I don't see you kept twelve defensive backs, Joshure, you know,

(06:09):
lights out gunner. I think when Dean Leonard gets healthy,
that's a guy that could be in that corner rotation
a little more than jaw Is. And so I think
this initial fifty three is I mean, think about Brendan
Rice last year. You know, he makes the initial fifty
three and then we almost never see him again, you know,
And so I think that's that's something to keep in mind,
is the initial fifty three. There's a lot of gamesmanship
and trying to figure out who you can get through

(06:31):
onto your practice squad and who you think is going
to get claimed by another team.

Speaker 1 (06:36):
I would not be surprised if this fifty three changes
by the time people are listening to this. You're taping
this on a Thursday morning. Seems happening with this podcast often.
But just staying on the defensive side, Jalil the two
guys that we highlighted on Saturday, Marlo Waxonico read ahead
of the game, is this being a game that could
maybe make or break their chances for the fifty three man?

(06:58):
Say what you keep? Twelve d Beach. There was not
a way to not keep Nico Reid with the way
that he played throughout the preseason, the practices and what
he did in Santa Clara and Marlo Wax. You know,
with with Junior Colson's season ending injury that we can
get into as well. Man, that was a surprise, But
Marlo Wax, I think making the fifty three wasn't much

(07:20):
of a surprise after we saw what he did on Saturday.

Speaker 3 (07:24):
No, well, it's funny we we missed on I think
it was the second week of preseason with our players
to watch and then we hit a home run last
week right with Marl we did. But those two guys
just obviously undrafted. I have a soft spot for undrafted guys.
I took that same path. I know how hard it
can be mentally physically, you know you're not getting much
reps and every rep that you take it counts, right,

(07:45):
And Nico Reid and Marlo Wax, both of those guys
on the defensive side of the ball, as well as
special teams, showed up big all preseason long. And it's
just it's refreshing, right because it shows again what this
front office has continued to do over the last two
years is fine diamonds in the rough, and these are
one of the two. These are two of the guys
from this class, not draft class, from this class because

(08:08):
they are undrafted that fell through the cracks, and they
were like, hey, you know what, for whatever reason they did,
but these guys can play ball, and they show that
all preseason long.

Speaker 4 (08:17):
Yeah, you know, I think the look a lot of
general managers are very particular, protective, precious about their draft picks.
You know, they know that they're graded on the draft.
They know they want to, oh, this guy was a
six to seventh rounder, and so I give Joe Hortiz
a ton of credit. You know, we saw that Branson
Taylor was just overmatched out there, you know, and they

(08:39):
saw it last year with Justin and Boyd be a
fourth rounder, and they told us, they're like, look, this
is gonna be a developmental player. It may not be
in twenty twenty four, but we think give it a
year twenty twenty five. I think you could have a
big impact on this team. And I think they maybe
learned their lesson from that last year, Like here's a
guy who played twenty snaps, man, and we kept them
on the fifty three all year. And this is a
team that churns man. They are constantly churning the back

(09:01):
end of that roster. And I think in the case
of Branson and Trequiz Bridges, They're like, yeah, there are
draft picks, but Marlow Wat's gonna play on Sunday. Marlo
Wax is going to play on Sunday. Now, well, Nico Reid,
I don't know. I think you look at the corners
and you're talking about Derwin's a nickel. That's what he is. Now,
so you know, now, if Nico wants to get out there,

(09:23):
he's gonna have to get out there ahead of Cam
Heart Tarib still Saint Jus Dante Jackson, Like, that's a
little bit more. But he's flashed and he's been great
on special teams, and so I think that's that's the thing.
Like those two players to me are I had no
doubt in my mind Marlo mack Wax was going to

(09:44):
make this team. I was like, there's just just no way.
You can see it, man, that guy sees it, he
attacks it, It's it's there. Nikol was like, you know,
there's a reason why he didn't get drafted. He's five
to nine, he's you know, he's not the most explosive athlete,
but he's good. Man. You can see that he knows
how to he can ball, Julie. But I think that's
one where you're like, might be able to sneak him through.
You might be able because you know a lot of

(10:06):
these teams when they claim players off waivers, it's typically
a scout or someone that's just that that had a
big ride up on them, right, And normally if you
have that, that guy's getting drafted. Like I mean, Chris,
I'll let you get into it. But like you know,
I left Raheem Sanders off my fifty three and I
put nahem Heinz on just because I thought it fit.
And I was under the impression that Na Shei was

(10:27):
going to be on the NFI. So he's going to
be out four weeks. Here's your hammer, Amari and Hampton.
Here's a giant, powerful back in Hassan Haskins. Let me
get that little third down back in there. And everybody
went crazy that I didn't keep Raheem Sanders. I'm like, guys,
you can't. Can't have Hampton Sanders in Haskins like that. Yeah,
And so I said, And the other thing is that

(10:48):
Sanders is probably not going to get claimed. Running backs
don't get claim Well, of course, I got everybody. I
told you so you idiot, what do you think. Okay, well,
I could not have projected that quin Shawn Jenkins was
going to be a lunkhead and not be able to
sign his deal. The Browns drafted two running backs, they
drafted two guys, and they still claimed the running a
rookie running back cup. So you know, I'm sure they

(11:10):
thought that, Chris. I'm sure they thought Rocket was going
to make it through. And man, it's a rarity that
that happens on waiver day that you put in a
claim for a running back.

Speaker 1 (11:20):
Well money, you're right because he was the only running
back claimed, and you were also right about the DB's.
Fourteen DB's were claimed, and that's why I have full
confidence that Nico Reid would have been claimed because Bridges
was claimed and Nico Reid made plays every single practice.
I mean, you started starting Canton and then what he
did in Santa Clara. So you know, Jalil with with Nico,

(11:44):
I don't know if he's going to play, if he's
going to be active, you know, the first couple of
weeks of the season. But but what he was able
to do, what Marlo Wax was able to do, and
just to go back to your early point about Joe Ortiz.
You know, to have three ud FA's make the fifty
three and many thought four because of Rocket and Rocket
got claimed. I mean, I think it goes to the

(12:06):
kind of the holistic process of what goes into scouting,
and just I think the the thin line there is
between like six and seventh round picks and undrafted free agents,
guys who probably could have been drafted had had the
draft order been different, and good on. You know, Bresty
Hiller gets on the practice squad, but you know a
guy like RJ Nickins six round safety who played well

(12:29):
above his six round draft status.

Speaker 2 (12:31):
So yeah, and it just it just goes to show guys.

Speaker 3 (12:34):
And I was in this situation that looks scouts they're human, right,
they're traveling on the road for one hundred and eighty
days or sleeping in hotels.

Speaker 2 (12:41):
Right, they're tired, they miss, right, And it's you.

Speaker 3 (12:44):
Said it money, it's you tip your hat, right, because
as gms and you're playing in the NFL, and you're
it's the most competitive business at whatever level is front
office as a player, and you can be prideful, right,
and sometimes you can let probably get in your way
and that's what they're not doing. Right, They say, listen,
you know what, we thought we had one. We made
a mistake, but here we are and this will this

(13:04):
is the route we're going to go. And I remember playing,
they would always say when guys would come in, if
you're drafted anywhere past the fifth, the fifth, sixth, and
seventh round, you might as well attack it as if
you're a free agent, right, because we all know this
is a business, and if you're at the fifth, sixth,
seventh round, you probably they probably haven't invested as much

(13:26):
money as they have into the first fourth draft picks. Right,
That's just is what it is. And we would always
say you're not safe. You're not safe, right, only the
first three first four rounds and we even haven't seen
a fourth round to get cut right. So like, it's
not shocking to me to see that those sixth rounders
got cut, right, it's not shocking to me to see
that r. J. Mickeys outplayed his draft pick right his

(13:48):
draft round, because these guys missed, and it just is
what it is. Right, they're scouting one hundreds of school,
thousands of players, and guys fall through.

Speaker 2 (13:56):
The crack, all on myself. So I'm not surprised at all.

Speaker 4 (14:00):
Yeah, Chris. I mean, just to Julia's point, the Rams
cut their fifth round pick. You know, they cut Chris
Paul Jr. And it happens every year. So I think
the best front offices operate that way. And what's the
mantra of this front office and this head coach Competitors welcome.
So if you're out there competing and you're winning, and
you're Kendall Williamson and you're winning, and you're Marlo Wax
and you're Nico Reid and you're Eric Rodgers and you

(14:21):
are winning as competitors, they want to reward those guys
because that's their identity. And that's that's how you build trust, competitiveness,
and belief and want and sacrifice, the willingness to sacrifice
from your team because they know if they do, then
you're going to reward them. And that starts with the
fifty three Yeah money quickly.

Speaker 3 (14:43):
One thing that just popped out to me you said
was trust. And a coach of mine would always say,
I don't care if your first round, I don't care
if you're free agent. He said, If I can't trust you,
I can't play you. Because the first people to go
is me. They fire the coaches.

Speaker 2 (14:57):
First, not the player. Yeah, and it's a fact.

Speaker 3 (15:00):
Like my brother coaches for the Buffalo Bills, and he
always tells me, Hey, Jalil, I don't care if I
have a first round I don't care if I have
a phrase in a fifth round. He's like the guy
that I can trust, the guy that I know that's
gonna go out there and do everyone's an athlete.

Speaker 2 (15:11):
At this point in the stage of the career.

Speaker 3 (15:13):
Every NFL player is a unicorn, right, So whichever guy
I know that's gonna go out there and run the
right route, is going to pass protect who's going to
be in the position that we want him to be in? Right,
because most of the time, if you're in position that
they put you in, you're gonna make the play. So
these coaches one guy that they can trust, and you
can see that year in the year out. Hey, no
matter what, we drafted him fourth round, he drafted them
fifth round, he drafted him sixth round.

Speaker 2 (15:34):
But he just he's not catching on. He's this guy
from undrafted.

Speaker 3 (15:38):
He's hungry, he's persistent, he's coachable, right, and we can
trust the money.

Speaker 4 (15:43):
Like you said, I'm looking at the just real quick, Chris,
like you mentioned the corners that got claimed, and I'm
not trying to take a shot here at all. I'm
just saying we watched every snap. You know, Bridges allowed
twelve twelve reception on seventeen targets for two hundred and
twelve yards and a touchdown, nine first downs like it's

(16:09):
it's it is not even close the next highest and
let me see how so he's got one hundred and
twenty three coverage snaps. RJ Mickens, now he's a safety,
not a corner, had one hundred and fourteen coverage snaps
allowed fifty five yards. Kenda Williamson had one hundred and
eleven coverage snaps allowed eighteen yards. So Trequez Bridges gets

(16:31):
claimed to the Nico Reid, Eric Rodgers, why didn't they
keep Raheem Sanders because they know, like the fact that
Bridges got claimed and fourteen DB's got claimed and that
dude had a rough preseason, man a rough preseason.

Speaker 1 (16:47):
And Julia probably goes to your point where maybe there
was somebody in that Cowboys front office that like Bridges
coming out of Florida and thinks that they can maybe
he fits well in that system that they're running with.
Matt ever reflues down there. I don't know, but you know,
I think DJ says this still at the how how
the preseason is kind of a liar. Yes, I think

(17:07):
the one thing that you can glean from the preseason
with teams is just how strong the back half of
their rosters are. And I think by getting four guys
claimed I think it was four guys because Campbell went
to the Carolina right.

Speaker 4 (17:21):
Yeah, Campbell, I mean initially it was Campbell, Triquez and
and obviously Rocket. Yeah, so three, I think the Rams.

Speaker 1 (17:28):
Three, Okay, the Rams. Only the Rams had more. I
think only the Rams had more.

Speaker 2 (17:32):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (17:32):
But I think it goes to the fact that this
is a much deeper roster than last year. And you know,
we're gonna get to Brazil next week. We're not gonna
be even be talking about, you know, the third and
fourchise on this roster. But I think the the Rocket
Sanders conversation kind of flows nicely into next week. And
that's the Najee Harris, who we had not seen practice

(17:55):
up until yesterday. Doing individual drills yesterday, he looks like
he's possibly gonna be ready to rock week one against
the Kancae Chiefs in Brazil, which you know, we were
under the assumption when a guy, especially a running back
is not getting those reps in practice and hasn't started
practicing until you know we can change before the game,

(18:16):
that guy may not play week one. Well, the fact
that they were willing to let Rocket kind of go
and get claimed by the Cleveland Browns tells us that
they kind of believe what they believed when they signed
Nagie Harris. When he's in there and he's on the
football field, he's super durable, so Isamari and Hampton, and
they feel comfortable Jalil going with those three guys. And

(18:37):
we talked about Haskins and his special teams versatility.

Speaker 3 (18:40):
Yeah, that's a great point. Chris and I just look
at it like, obviously they've.

Speaker 2 (18:47):
Seen something and they know something that we don't.

Speaker 3 (18:49):
When we were covering last week, covering the third no sorry,
the last preseason game, Georgiz came on air and said
that he expects Naji to be ready, So they know
something that we'd obviously being playing in the league for
so long. There's stuff that you hide from the media.
There's stuff that you know, you don't let get out
of the bag. But it's tough, like not not playing

(19:11):
or not getting any physical reps right, any game reps
and having your legs up under you. So to say
all preseason, all all training camp and then to hop
out their week one, it's gonna be tough. But I
think that they're comfortable knowing that Naji is a veteran,
knowing that he is very durable, never missed a game
before in his career, and then they know that Amara

(19:32):
is going to be the.

Speaker 2 (19:32):
Workhorse, right, so Naji's gonna spare him.

Speaker 3 (19:35):
So I don't think that they are going into this
game saying, hey, Naji, you're gonna be our bell.

Speaker 2 (19:38):
Kyle, No, you're gonna spare us.

Speaker 3 (19:40):
We're gonna give you about eight to ten carries, right,
and then we're gonna let a Mario and go and
do his thing.

Speaker 2 (19:44):
So I think that's where they're headed.

Speaker 4 (19:46):
Yeah, I would say, you know, and Juliel, if you
want to just kind of I'll be quick and maybe
you can jump on. This's like my concern is, you know,
is ten days enough or are we gonna be looking
at some soft tissue like you gotta be careful on
that front.

Speaker 3 (19:58):
And that's why that's what I was telling is right, like,
because I remember training for training camp and I go
ball to the walls and I'm training three times a day,
but there's nothing like going out through what pads on.

Speaker 2 (20:09):
There's nothing like like when you're training.

Speaker 3 (20:12):
Yes, you're controlling your movements when you're training, when you're
on the field, you're reacting to everything.

Speaker 2 (20:17):
It's a totally it's totally different.

Speaker 3 (20:19):
And we're not talking about you know, nause getting a
bone or ankle. No, we're talking hamstrings, right, knock on,
wood calves, soft tissue.

Speaker 2 (20:26):
Like, those things come.

Speaker 3 (20:27):
Those things come to play because your body's just not ready,
your body's not trained for, your body's fatigued, and when
your body's fatigued, that's when you start straining stuff. So
I was kind of shocked to see that they were
going to have him ready to rock week one, not
because he's not ready physically and mentally, but because it
will his body be able to take the toll that's
going to go down in Brazil.

Speaker 4 (20:47):
And I think that's you know, when you're thinking about
who got put back on the practice squad, that's kind
of where Comani by Dell pops In. You know, is
here's someone who plays a ton of special teams who
fits into that room. You know, if it's Hampton and
Haskins and then Videll, you know who's probably your best
pass catching back, you know, unless Hampton takes that from him,
which I wouldn't be surprised. And so I think they
felt good about that. You know, to me, if I

(21:10):
had to get like as crazy as it sounds and like,
here's the thing I And maybe it's just because I
got into this so much with people online because I like,
I love it. You know, it's fun to engage with
them and talk a little bit and kind of see
where they're coming from and what they saw. And I said, listen,
I've seen a lot of this is my tenth year, man,
I've seen a lot of ninth year. I've seen a
lot of preseason football. And there's only one running back

(21:31):
I remember going Holy hell, and that was Austin Eckler,
and that dude was ripping off carries for six yards
per tote. He caught the hell out. He had a
wheel route where he tracked the ball over his shoulder, burned.
A linebacker took it in for a tug or almost.
I think you took it to like the two yard
line and he was a special team's demon, like just
a freaking psycho. Yeah, he was gunning. I said, you know,

(21:56):
Rocket had a nice run. He had like one like
you because you're like, oh wow, that's a that's a
big man moving now. And like I was like, there's
there's there's there's not a lot there. There's not a
lot where someone will be like, holy hell, look at it.
This guy's going to be a stuff. You've got a
Marion Hampton that's gonna be getting seventy five percent of
the carries. You got Naji Harris in the first few

(22:19):
weeks here that's gonna get twenty percent of the carries.
And Ashan Haskin is gonna get five percent of the carries.
What does that do for Rocket Sanders? He's inactive, Like
that's that's all we're talking about, you know. So for
people that are with with the, with the with the
to your point, Chris with Nause being out there practicing,
like you have to remember, like this is a room,
it's a collection, it's not Rocket Sanders is great.

Speaker 1 (22:43):
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(23:05):
splitario dot com slash Chargers. It's we have to take
our preseason colored glasses off now it's time for the
regular season. And this is why they brought nag in.
They brought Naji in before Marion Hampton was even in
the conversation at twenty two, overall thinking that he could
be the bell cow. So when you bring in another
guy who we're very confident can have a really really

(23:26):
good year, maybe offensive Rookie of the Year type year
with a Marion Hampton, just the way that he looked
throughout the preseason, where are the carry's going to come
from for anybody else? Right? So I think Amaron Hampton
can can carry the load for the first four weeks
if need be. If you want to give Nase four
five touches in Brazil and give Amaran fifteen to twenty

(23:48):
and let Justin Herbert do the rest. And that's great,
but I think that that's going to ramp up to
a running game that is going to be I think,
markedly more consistent than it was last year, because there
was there was times listen when JK was rolling for
a few weeks, he was, he was popping off fifty
sixty hour runs, but we were lacking a consistency on

(24:09):
a week to week basis.

Speaker 4 (24:10):
Julie, Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 (24:12):
And I'm just going to tell you from a players standpoint,
like the Kannasity Chiefs, like you better get your big
boy pads because for four quarters tackling and Marion Hampton
and then the guy that's sparing him is Najie Harris,
Like that's a heavyweight fight, twelve rounds, blow for blow.
Like I you talk about a JK. Dobbins comeback year.

(24:33):
Last year was hot, right, you know, finished games for us.
But this is a different monster that we're talking about
with these two headed monsters that they got, and I
think it's going to be really really beneficial for Herbie
and the offense.

Speaker 4 (24:45):
And look, this was another thing I pointed out. You
know someone's like oh, Rockett was the best running back
in the preseason. I said, no, it wasn't. St Haskins
was the best running back in the preseason. Son Haskins
looked like a man on a mission. And you're talking
about a guy that posted a fifteen hundred year our
twenty four touchdown season for coach harbaughd Michigan. You know
that this is a dude that you look at his

(25:06):
and I think what happens is people become victim some
not all, but but a lot of people that get
get you know, air in their mouth and start flapping
those gums. They're just looking at box scores and they're
looking at Hassan's Haskins stats from last year and it's like, well,
why are we keeping a guy that's averaging you know,
three yards per carrier? Why? Because that's the guy that
was asked to pick up third and one and would

(25:27):
get you three yards every time they handed him the ball.
That's a guy that would go in and justin Herbert
trusted him implicitly in pass pro to hang in there
and wait for lad to flash open, like it's not
all about being you know, Priest Holmes and averaging five
point five yards per carry, Like Hassan's role was very

(25:47):
defined last year and he was really good at it.
And he was and he never complained. Here's a guy
on a one year deal, on a ED minimum deal,
and he never complained about being the running back that
didn't get those opportunities on first and second down, rarely
maybe get a series per game, and was constantly asked
to come in and pick up two yards and he
knew what that would do to his box score. And

(26:09):
I commend him, man, and I commend the coaching staff.
Same thing with Tucker Fisk. Man. That was the other one.
I had him on my initial fifty three and people
are like, you're out of your mind, you can't keep
up blocking. You watched Tucker Fisk. That guy's freaking machine. Man.
This is a team that wants to bly. You're talking
about at big Boy Pants, Jalil. You know, like you've
got a right side of the line that is severely
compromised because of the Rashaun Slater injury, and you need

(26:31):
to tell me you're not gonna keep Tucker Fisk on
this roster and plant his ass right next to Trey Pipkins.
You know, while you have Will Dissy this team's gonna
be operating in twelve and twenty two and freaking thirteen
a heck of a lot this season, and Tucker Fisk
is gonna be a big part of that.

Speaker 1 (26:47):
Yeah, you know, naikeem heinz him. I was very intrigued
to see who the running backs they were going to
keep on the practice squad, and I imagine Rocket was
gonna be one of them headed out through and then
I don't know, if you know, it could have been
between nahim and and Kimani. Jimani played really well the
first two preseason games, I think is the third one,
he had like ten carries for sixteen yards.

Speaker 4 (27:08):
Then they got the old line was a disaster in
that game. Yes, I mean it was an abject failure
in that game, and it didn't do those guys any favors.

Speaker 1 (27:15):
Yeah, but you know, the one thing we talked about
with Naim Jalil on Saturday is just the concern anything
is the fumbles, like putting the ball on the ground.
Jim harball. You're not going to play if you put
the football on the ground. So three fumbles in the
preseason a little concerning. But on the other side of it,
you know, his veteran presence and kind of maybe having

(27:35):
a veteran in the room if something were to happen
to Nazi or he can't go, and then you know,
let's kind of shift to the tight ends room. I
agree with your money. I didn't see a world where
Tuckerfisk wasn't going to be on the team just because
of the Rashaun Slater injury. Now you have you have
Disley who can kind of slide into that natural role
as primarily a blocker, but someone who can catch the football,

(27:58):
and then you have Conklin and Gatson is really your
top past catching options. It's a tight ends room, Jalil,
that just feels a lot more complete than it did
last year. And with the absence of Rishawn Slater, man
you need those blocking tight ends, especially in the fourth
quarter of football games.

Speaker 3 (28:16):
Yeah, and when you look at Tucker Fisk, they labeled
him as a tight end, but he's really a glorified.

Speaker 2 (28:22):
Old school fullback.

Speaker 4 (28:24):
Yeah right, he's.

Speaker 3 (28:25):
That's what he's built like, right, And you know, I
know the game has gotten away from the typical traditional
fullback right back in the day leading you know ISOs,
but that's what he is. When money, you talked about it.
You can go thirteen personnel, motion him in the backfield.
Now you have an eye formation with two block and
tight ends still on the field right. Then you motion
him from the backfield to create that you know, we

(28:46):
called it a spread look with three tight ends on
the line, and now you're creating extra running gaps. So
there's so much that you can do with that thirteen
personnel and the twenty two personnel and the twenty one
personnel and the identity and the style of ball that
Jim har Ball plays.

Speaker 2 (29:01):
It only made sense.

Speaker 3 (29:02):
That that was, you know, one of the key points
to keep Tucker Fisk. And when you talk about the
tight end room being more complete, Tyler Conklin obviously passing
tight end, got Rondi Gaskin passing tight end, and then
you got Will Disley who can do it. Last year,
I mean he was in the passing game.

Speaker 1 (29:18):
He proved it.

Speaker 2 (29:19):
I prove it. So I mean you improved. There's a
major improvement in that room.

Speaker 3 (29:24):
And like I said, with Fist being you know, a
glorified tight end slash fullback, you can move him around
so much.

Speaker 4 (29:32):
He's a chess piece, yeah, and a launch snapper. Don't
find out.

Speaker 2 (29:37):
You know, yeah, the more the more you can do,
the more you.

Speaker 4 (29:40):
And I'll say, look, he's not going to be snap.
He's not gonna be launch snapping the ball in the
Chiefs game in Brazil. So that's something to keep in mind.
You know, you're going to remove one of these players
from the fifty three because you have to add a
long snapper, and you're gonna remove one of these players
from the fifty three because you're gonna have to add
a ninth offensive linement. You know, I just don't. I
don't and that I don't foresee this team. And I

(30:01):
Popper and I had this argument at a training camp practice,
and you know, Popper likes to get hot when it
comes to the fifty three man roster, and he said,
there's no way this team is going to carry eight
offensive linemen because we were kind of talking about the
struggles of David Sharp of Branson Taylor, and I just said,
if they're not rosterable in their current state, David Sharp,

(30:22):
you know, Greg Roman has talked about how he's out
of shape. They need to get him back in shape.
And the fact that Taylor has kind of been dealing
with these injuries and really struggling out there. I was like,
how can you put them on the fifty three? I
was like, they're going to have to go out and
find other guys. And yes, this is a team that's
going to probably carry nine offensive linemen. I've got to
believe that with the injury history to Mackay Beckton, with

(30:44):
the you know, Trey has been a guy that's got
banged up quite a bit. So now I think, you know,
you're talking about nine oer linemen, and you know, you
look at the the practice squad tells you everything. You know,
it kind of tells the tail right, and they get
seventeen because they have Thomas Yasman in there for the
international player. But the sixteen players, look who they are.

(31:04):
David Sharp, coach Roman told us he's got to get
into shape. You know, Branson Taylor, Hey, tried them a
guard wasn't really working. Try him it at tackle. Let's see.
You know, it's a project, you can see it. You
know the same thing with Look if Nahem Hines doesn't
have those three fumbles, I think he makes the team, right.

Speaker 1 (31:24):
Yeah, yeah, because he's a he's a Darius Davis replacement too.
Right back there, you know, the more, like you said,
the more you can do. And you know, the the
Josh Harris thing throws a little bit of a wrinkle
into the first four weeks of the season. You're not
gonna have him. He's a he's a Pro Bowl long snapper,
and it's until you don't have a long snapper. It's
not as everything's fine until he's out of the equation

(31:48):
because the chemistry between JK and Cameron and Josh is
a big deal. They brought Rick Levado onto the practice squad.
He was with the Eagles, won two Super Bowls with
the Eagles, was there for for eight or nine seasons.
So at least you bring in a guy who's been there,
done that, who has been in big moments, and you
hope that you don't miss the absence of Josh Harris

(32:11):
because that would be something that has gone wrong in
the Special Teams operation. Guys.

Speaker 2 (32:17):
Yeah, and you do you talk about it, Chris.

Speaker 3 (32:19):
It's like it's like the girlfriend that you know been
wanting you forever and you've been shutting her away and.

Speaker 2 (32:27):
Then when she leaves you, you realize how much you
miss her.

Speaker 3 (32:29):
Right, It's it's the long snapper, Like it's a it's
just a position that's taken for granted.

Speaker 2 (32:35):
Like he's a long snapper, he better do his job.
But it's all about timing.

Speaker 3 (32:40):
And I would see these guys so often while we're
doing seven on seven and team and one on ones,
the long snapper and the holder and the kicker off
to the side, and they're just they're just practicing their reps,
their timing. And I was a part of a team
when we were losing games by three, right, and we
were missing game winning field goals and.

Speaker 4 (32:59):
We yeah, you know like twenty seventeen.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
Yeah, we missed the playoffs because of it.

Speaker 4 (33:04):
Right, So, yeah, lost your first four, lost.

Speaker 2 (33:06):
The first and we were I mean, it's nothing you
can do.

Speaker 4 (33:09):
With finished nine and seven, lost your first four and
finished nine and seven.

Speaker 2 (33:13):
And still didn't make it.

Speaker 3 (33:14):
So yeah, like, I know how crucial it is for
a long snapper and a hold.

Speaker 2 (33:18):
You're a kicker, right.

Speaker 3 (33:19):
Everyone knows how great Cameron Dicker is, But at the
end of the day, Cameron Dicker can't do his job
if the operation time is not done correctly. So that's
a good point you made, Chris, And hopefully you know,
we don't miss Harris those first four weeks.

Speaker 4 (33:32):
Yeah, it's it's gonna be hard not to miss. Somebody's
a captain. It's a guy that's been made. He's a
long snapper and he was a captain of the team.
Like that's how important he is. And you know, the
operation's been arguably the best in football between EJK and
Dicker when it comes to cam and look that has
been historically. All he's going to do is take his
next three attempts and it'll still be the most accurate
kicker in the history of the NFL through one hundred attempts.

(33:53):
So you know, so Levado's going to get elevated. And
the reason he hasn't been yet because they want to
try to get these teams to get their rosters as
settled as possible. So whoever he's replacing is going to
go to the practice squad and hopefully won't get picked
up and put on somebody's fifty three. But yeah, that's
gonna be a big one. You know, that's gonna be

(34:13):
a big one because I don't know and look, I
bring I puffed my chest out about Tucker Fisk and
all that, and I also recognize that I think he's
a guy that could probably be sent down from time
to time because I don't know how many teams value
what Tucker Fisk would have to offer like the Chargers do.
I do know, though, that he is as valuable to
them as he would be any other team, and that's

(34:34):
why he may never get sent down, because they can't
afford to lose someone who's that capable of a blocker,
who had a seven game streak with a reception, you know,
who's always good for one man, he's gonna get you one.
He saw at of that preseason get Hall of Fame game, right,
there's a nineteen yarder man and he's got good hands.
You know, he's got good hands, and you let them
leak out. It's a fun little it's fun. It's a

(34:55):
fun play man. I remember going back and watching it.
I'm gonna pull up right now just because it puts
a big smile on my face when I see it.
It's just I think, you know what, I think they
did it with a ronde if I remember right, I
think it was with a ronde in the might have
been the Saints game, and it was a fun little
wrinkle to see, Julie, you got him, You got a
Rondez linking up with I think it was I think

(35:17):
it was a backer that was lined up, and he's
got him for a good second and a half two seconds,
and then all of a sudden, just chucks him and
he runs that seam route and it's wide open man
for fifteen twenty yards. And that's what Fisk does, because
what does he do? He goes out there any blocks
and you're you can it's one of those it's not
a trick play, but it's a play. You set up

(35:39):
all these runs, all these runs, all these run here
comes Tucker Fisk and then all of a sudden he's
ditching you and there is nobody for fifteen yards of
green and you're gonna pick up a first down because
of it, every single game, because of how capable of
a blocker he is and the resources that they have
to commit to try to win that battle.

Speaker 1 (35:56):
Yeah, you know, Tucker, go ahead, Jilli, Okay.

Speaker 3 (35:59):
And that's the thing, like we talk about it, and
we didn't even mention twenty three personnel with Scott with
Scottie in the back, full bank right right, and three
tight ends on the field, and it's like, okay, well,
obviously it looks like they're gonna run the ball, but
then there's play action and now the linebacker's feet are
cold and they're not coming downhill is fast. And now
that they're coming down hill is fast, We're gonna go
play action over the top. So listen, it's gonna be

(36:20):
really interesting to see how g ro gets creative with
that personnel.

Speaker 2 (36:25):
Well, you know.

Speaker 1 (36:26):
Tucker Fisked and you know him being a target for
Justin Herver late in the season is a nice segue
to the to the.

Speaker 4 (36:32):
Wider I'm watching it right now. It's hilarious to watch.
I mean, Tucker is, he's a freaking bowling ball.

Speaker 2 (36:40):
He's attached Tucker for President Man.

Speaker 4 (36:42):
Right, he's attached to the right line. He's attached to
the right of the offensive line. And on the snap
with with Trey throwing it, he just sneaks out and
he just breaks that. It's like a post route, man,
and he's got to jump and a high point the
ball and it's like, yeah, dude, there we go. It's
hilarious to watch, man.

Speaker 2 (37:01):
But I don't think I'm happy about anything other than surfing.

Speaker 4 (37:04):
Oh it makes me so happy because the guy, I mean,
you know how it is, Julie right, you bust your
face into a guy for however many snapped forty five
snaps a game, and then here's my one chance, dude,
and I'm setting up this safety and he's setting up
outside leverage A bang, I'm gonna cut it inside and
I'm gonna have to high point this thing for fifteen yards.

Speaker 1 (37:23):
Well, definitely, I'm excited about that. I don't want to
see it in September. I'd like to see these wide
receivers that that I think we finally have a wide
receiver room that that looks complete. And it was you know, Mike,
Mike retired, they won a training camp. I think that
there was a little bit of okay, what are what
are KALs and Trey Harriskon looks like in the preseason

(37:44):
they delivered Keena comes in and as soon as Keina
came in, it felt like that wide receiver room was
really really settled. Like it felt like we've known for
a couple of weeks now who the six guys are
going to be. And that's a good thing because you know,
just going back and mentioning Tucker Fisk when he's a
weapon in a wildcard game, that's probably not a good sign.

(38:04):
When when you have a bang up JK. Dobbins and
not much a burning game, that's not a good sign.
When nobody other than lat mcconukey's doing anything on the outside,
it's not great for Justin Herbert. That's why I think
he was pressing a little bit in that game. Now
you have Lad and I don't even know if I
would put a label on who the wide receiver two is.
It could be Quentin, it could be Keenan. I think
Trey Harrison Kalos have shown us over like the last month,

(38:29):
you know, on a on any given Sunday, could be them.
You know, Darius Davis has done stuff. So I think
that the wide receiver room money's in much much better
shape than it was nine ten months ago.

Speaker 4 (38:43):
Yeah, I think you're going to see a lot of
Laddin Keenan out there.

Speaker 2 (38:46):
Any wide receiver too, baby all day.

Speaker 4 (38:49):
Right, I just that to me, like, I think that's
just going to our point though, Juliel about it being
a lot of twelve, a lot of thirteen, maybe some
thirteen and some twenty two. And I think you're gonna
you know, I think you're gonna see a lot of twelve, Lad, Keenan,
and that's what it's gonna look like. You know, to me,
that's that's sort of what I suspect him. Marian Hampton,

(39:09):
here's Tucker Fist, will Disley, Keenan lad and let's go
and and you feel pretty good about.

Speaker 1 (39:15):
That, Jillian, Do you do you think Keenan Do you
think Keenan has a little chip right now? Like I
just I'm looking at I'm looking at Terry McLaurin, thirty
years old getting all that money. He deserves it. But
you know, Keenan is thirty two, kind of had to
wake this out and comes to the Chargers and it
didn't seem like and I don't know, maybe maybe his agent,

(39:37):
maybe he had other opportunities, didn't want to go anywhere else,
but it just it feels like he's a little bit forgotten.
And you know, we talked about how his game is
early predicated on speed anyway, but you said wide receiver too,
slam dunk. It's just it's it's hard for me to
believe that he was out there as long as he was.

Speaker 2 (39:52):
Yeah, I was. I was shocked by that.

Speaker 3 (39:54):
And when you look what he did in Chicago last
year with Calen Williams getting beat up and not being
able to get the ball.

Speaker 2 (39:59):
Out and still had a very productive year.

Speaker 3 (40:02):
He still was putting guys on skates, He still was
having highlight reels.

Speaker 2 (40:05):
His game didn't.

Speaker 3 (40:06):
Drop right, So the fact that he sat that long
maybe was only people may have thought that, you know,
he was asking for too much at the age that
he's at. You know, in the NFL, once you turn thirty,
which was a good point that Skary Terry just got
that bag at thirty, which just shocking. Once you turn thirty,
no matter how good you look, the front office and

(40:26):
the league starts to write you off like you're going
downhill more than you're going up right for whatever reason.
And I think Keenan still can be arguably, depending on
if they want to run the offense around him, he
could be one, right, but they're not obviously lads one.

Speaker 2 (40:41):
We know that.

Speaker 3 (40:42):
So when you say who's two, it's Keenan off the
bat right. It just I'm going to be really intrigued
to see how they use Keenan because Keenan really makes
his hay in the slot and Ladd makes his hay
in the slot.

Speaker 2 (40:55):
Right.

Speaker 3 (40:55):
Earlier on in Keenan's career, he made his hay on
the outside and the slot, and then as you know,
Anthony Lynn came and Staley came. They it was more
so that slot route, slot choices. He's never really been
a burner. We know that since he came into the league.
But he's still one of the best, and we'll go
down as the best wide receiver in charges history. But
I'm just excited for him to be back. Good friend

(41:19):
of mine, same class, and I know that he's going
to put up the numbers this year. That's gonna make
people raise their eyebrows, like, hey, why was this guy
sitting that long?

Speaker 4 (41:28):
Yeah, it's also hard they use him. You know, they
didn't really use him right in Chicago. Guy's running go balls,
you know, ten percent of the time.

Speaker 1 (41:34):
And I mean it was a mess there though. It
was a mess.

Speaker 4 (41:37):
Yeah, three offensive coordinators and and I think the thing
is her like there's there's he had a rookie throwing
to him that held out of the ball too long
that that we knew, you know, it was going to
take a minute to get acclimated. I still think Cale
it's gonna be a great quarterback in this league. But
you know that what were the knocks coming in he
used to process a little bit, quicker, holds onto the
ball a little too long, thinks he can scramble and

(41:59):
make that is so not Keenan. Allen. Keenan's like and
breaks it down, and I need the ball and and
let's go. And that's what Herbert Herbert sees you know.
Herbert's like a freaking hammerhead shark. Dude, he sees it all,
you know. So it's like the second that ball is snapped,
he's like. That's the thing. When you go back and
watch Herbert tape to see how quickly he goes through

(42:20):
his progressions, it's like, damn Like it's like it was
like watching Drew Brees. You know how quick that dude
would rip through those progressions. And that was like, that's Keenan, Like,
give it to me. It's it's the uh, it's make
another joke. I don't know if this one will land
as well, but it's the it's the lead Keenan is.
And he would probably punch me in the chest if
you heard me say this. But he's kind of like

(42:41):
the Leroy Horde of receivers, right, remember the famous Lee
Roy Horde quote, you want you need two yards I'm
gonna get you three. You need five yards, I'm gonna
get you three. You know, Keenan is you need you
need three yards. I'm gonna get you seven. You need
ten yards. I'm gonna get you seven. You know. But
that's and and I and Herbert have that. You know
they have that. And I don't think Chicago did a

(43:04):
great job of that last year of kind of knowing
what that value was. I mean, jeez, there's a reason
why the guy would lead the league in third down
catches every year because he knows where are the sticks?
How do I get my depth? Let me get that reception.
Move the sticks. I don't need the fifteen point six
yards average, you know, yards perception, That's not what I need.

(43:25):
Look how many first downs I got.

Speaker 2 (43:27):
It's never been him though.

Speaker 4 (43:28):
Yeah, no, you know what I.

Speaker 1 (43:30):
Was thinking about this. You know, last year you lose
Mike and Keenan. So justin the weapons that he grew
up through the league with, he had every year, year
and year out of the security blank with Keenan did
not have that last year, And it took a while
for the chemistry between him and lad It didn't take long,
but it took a minute for them to really kind
of get on the same page and be he was

(43:52):
kind of the keen and two point zero last year
towards the end of the year. Like the chemistry that
they had you could tell was built over time. Now
with Keenan back and that chemistry already established with Ladd,
I just think for Justin there's a lot more comfortable
comfortability with having Keenan and Ladd together. And and I'm
really intrigued to see how Greg Roman uses those guys

(44:14):
on the field together, especially on third down, because if
you put both those guys on on on the field
on third down and you got Kls going run on
a go route or you know some of these other guys,
you know, these these tight ends like Conklin and Gatson,
I think Justin could get really creative.

Speaker 4 (44:31):
Yeah. I think the one thing just quickly, Julian and
you can you can pay it quickly. I want to
point out I just pulled up his route tree from
last year. Uh understandably, most highest percentage was the out
for Keenan second most go how how is how is
Keenan's second most route run of freaking go route?

Speaker 2 (44:49):
That's That's that.

Speaker 4 (44:52):
But the second thing I was going to say, is
like the one thing about Lad because when you think
of slot, you know, you think of jitterbug and quick movements,
or you think of you know, the Keenan Ou in
power slot. Lad can run man. That's four to three guy.
So you know that's that's the difference.

Speaker 2 (45:07):
That's the difference. Money you hit it on the head,
that's the difference.

Speaker 3 (45:09):
Like Lad, you think about him and you're like, oh,
he's a he's a hundred refro type.

Speaker 2 (45:14):
No, he's not right. Can you run those routes? Can
you run those jig roundes? Can you run those shape routes?
Can he find a soft zone? Yes?

Speaker 3 (45:22):
But he can also take the top off we've see
in his yak yards last year. When he catches that thing,
he can get north and south right now, right, So
I'm I'm listen. Herbert has weapons and as a whole,
probably the most weapons.

Speaker 2 (45:36):
He's had in his career.

Speaker 3 (45:38):
If you look at it from Tyler right, Arande, then
Keenan Ladd, KLS, Trey, and QJ. I get it, Charge Nation,
I get it. But QJ is still a big physical
receiver that can run. Now the drops we'll see this year.
I always I'm always listen. I'm a guy who wants
to give people second chances. Listen, you have a chance

(45:59):
to prove yourself. And I think this is his year too.
He has to stamp himself. Talking about Quentin Johnson, he
has to stamp himself. But he's another option as well.
Like when you just look right bar injury knock on wood,
Herbert has the most weapons that he's had in his career.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
Money.

Speaker 1 (46:14):
I have question for you about the wide receivers with
with Quinton and then the and then the two rookies,
because I think Jalil you laid it out in a
way that I think is undeniable. Keen is going to
get a lot of run on the other side of
lad So the third wide receiver. You know, you obviously
invest a second round and a fifth round pick on
two rookies who were very promising this preseason. You also

(46:35):
have Quinton there. How do you how do you dole
out these snaps? Like is it a week the week thing?
Is it just kind of it kind of plays itself out,
you know, I like, what.

Speaker 2 (46:47):
Do you do?

Speaker 4 (46:48):
I mean, I think it's I don't think you're good.
You're not keeping six receivers on on game day, You're
just not like, that's not how the death works. It
can't happen. And so I think I think they already
showed us, right. They showed us in the RAM game
when Q took that shot and he was taken off
the field, who jogged on Andre Lambert Smith immediately and

(47:12):
immediately delivered. So I think they've kind of shown us,
you know, what it is. And so now later in
that game, Trey Harris had you know, had to kind
of had to come an out party and so that
was that was great for him. And I still believe
that both of those players can't contribute. I just I'm
trying to figure out how the math. But it's just

(47:32):
like putting the fifty three together, it's no different in
putting your game day together and which five guys are
going to be inactive and you're not kid with Darius
Davis being active every single Sunday or Friday. In the
case of Brazil, you're going to have one receiver inactive.
And I think you made a great point, Julil. I
think the way they've built this roster and I think

(47:54):
it'll go the same way on game day is competitors welcome,
you know, and if it's Q, and I think it'll
probably be Q most of the time, then it'll be Q.
But if for whatever reason, KeAndre Lambert Smith and Trey
Harris are closing in and there's something going on there,
you know, that's all this team cares about. Coach Harbad

(48:15):
just said it two days ago. You know, to heck
with winning Justin Herbert a playoff game. We're here to
win the Super Bowl or die trying. And so that
means I don't care what the number next to your
name is when it says round drafted. I care about
what you're going to do out there on the field
and help ten. How do we help ten? And Tucker
Fisk helps ten, and Amari and Hampton and Najie Harris

(48:37):
and Hassan Haskins most definitely helped number ten. And so
I think you're going to see a very similar thing
over the course of the season, because there is going
to be a wide receiver inactive every single week, and
it'll be interesting to see if it's the same guy
over and over again, or if that's you know, an
opportunity for somebody to go up and snatch a spot.

Speaker 1 (48:56):
Julia before you go just is worth mentioning Trey Harris
was off to the side in practice yesterday too, so again,
they don't have to roll out an injury report till
next week. But I think it's just that's noteworthy because
he didn't play in the last game either.

Speaker 3 (49:10):
Yeah, I'm not sure how big his injury is, but
money you said it.

Speaker 2 (49:14):
If we're going number three on Friday, right next Friday.

Speaker 3 (49:20):
I'm going QJ, right, big fan of KALs, like big
fan Trey Harris, second round draft pick, came on late
social prominence and catches KLS is on qj's tail.

Speaker 2 (49:32):
Right.

Speaker 3 (49:32):
But I think obviously you talked about an investment first
round draft pick, and this is the year where he
has to basically prove himself and if not, they know
that they have the young bucks in the wing that
they can easily.

Speaker 2 (49:43):
Say, hey, it's your time. Right, So that's my three.

Speaker 3 (49:46):
I'm going with just off the bat, but it'll be
exciting to see how they roll this thing.

Speaker 1 (49:54):
A couple more roster things and you know we'll close
the final thought, let's get out of here.

Speaker 4 (50:02):
Tray's time today for the second Lance.

Speaker 1 (50:07):
Trey Lance is the backup dju is on the practice squad.
Taylor Heineke was released. I you know, there was maybe
some conversation about keeping three quarterbacks. I think that the
move was was made, and I think it was the
right move to keep Lances the backup quarterback. Any anything
else regarding the quarterback or anything else, Julie that.

Speaker 5 (50:27):
You want to talk about, h No, I think that
that was the right move when you look at Trey Lance,
and I just want to condemn him right for you know,
being a third third overall draft pick and the pressure
that comes with being that and struggling, then having your
backup come in and become the superstar of the organization
and sign a big deal.

Speaker 2 (50:45):
Then you go to Dallas right where you pretty.

Speaker 3 (50:47):
Much know that you don't have a shot, right, and
then he comes over here and it just seems like
when he was in the game, he woned, he won,
He won QB two. The design runs, the way he
kept the drives alive with his feet, look comfortable in
the pocket, made really good throws, and just to have
people at home and it's playing in the NFL is
it's not just physical, right, It's a lot of mental

(51:09):
and the mental capacity that you have to have right
to get over those hardships and adversity.

Speaker 2 (51:15):
What what Trey.

Speaker 3 (51:16):
Lance has done and as a as a young buck,
he's only what twenty five to keep rolling and finding
a system that looks like fits him.

Speaker 2 (51:26):
I tip my hat to him.

Speaker 4 (51:29):
Yeah. Nothing on the quarterbacks, Chris, I'm you know, I'm
happy they kept DJ. I'm excited for them to continue
to develop them. You know, I think the world of
the young man and his family here in southern California,
So I'm excited for that. I did not realize. I
was not aware that that. I just assumed, because of
his skill set, the five star rating coming out of
high school, that he would have had a handful of
UDFA invites. He didn't. He made this team on a tryout,

(51:50):
on a local team tryout is how he got to
the Chargers. So speaking to your you know your point, Juliel,
of overcoming and kind of getting past those roadblocks that
have been put in front of you, you know, just
tip of the cap to DJ, who had a rough
go at Florida State that final year after a solid
season at Oregon State where he was able to kind
of re establish himself following a disappointing season at Clemson

(52:12):
and and I think the team's probably excited about developing him,
and that's sort of what I think we're looking at,
right if you can, if we can go through and
let's click on the schedule real quick, just so I
can kind of get a look at it, Like if
you can get a handful of these games where you
can put it on a team man, and you can
get Tray out there on the fourth quarter and he can,

(52:32):
you know, get out there and deal a little bit,
which I hope they're I hope they have an opportunity
to do that in a few of these. You know,
let's just say it's two or three. If you can
get two or three of those where he gets a quarter,
even let's three's a lot. Let's go two because there
aren't a lot of blowouts in the NFL. So if
you can get two games where he can get out
there and do his thing, you're talking to Everyone's like, oh,

(52:52):
they should trade him. No, no, no, that they will trade him.
The trade will be him getting the Baker Mayfield, the
Sam Darnold, the Daniel Jones in Indianapolis contract become a
starter and that becomes a third round pick, you know,
in the Coppick formula, and that's that's the goal. And
then if you can do it the next year with DJ,
another year in the system under Shane Day, with Justin

(53:14):
Herbert as your mentor, and now DJ gets out there
and he's you know, with that freaking cannon that he's
got and as young as he is, and he's showing
out now in the preseason because we certainly saw some
sweet throws from DJ in the preseason. You know, that's
how you do it. Remember it was it was Ron
Wolf's man. That's what he always did, right, He always
drafted a quarterback. And next thing you know, you're getting

(53:35):
a high pick for Matt Flynn, You're getting a high
pick for Mark Brunell, You're getting a high Hasselback. You're
getting a high pick for all of these quarterbacks that
you're drafting, or you have this an undrafted free agent
or a free agent, and that's that's what it's all about.

Speaker 1 (53:49):
I saw that the Seahawks are implementing Jalen Milroe in
like a package. Would you do that with Trey Lance?
But the thing is, if you have Justin Herbert as
your quarterback, you don't want to keep Justin Herbert off
the field.

Speaker 2 (53:59):
That's I think.

Speaker 1 (53:59):
That's the only.

Speaker 4 (54:01):
I think.

Speaker 2 (54:02):
I also don't design the runs with them either.

Speaker 4 (54:04):
Yeah, I do, I get it. I do. I want to.
I want to see a little more Josh Allen out there.

Speaker 1 (54:11):
Man.

Speaker 4 (54:11):
You know, I know it's easy for me to say,
and I the guy that's got to take the hits,
but he's a freaking horse, dude. He's built like a horse,
and so I would like to see it. And you know,
when we had Greg Roman on what did he say?
He's like, look, you know he kind of got he
got into the weeds a little bit with Justin's injuries,
Like we just never had that opportunity last year, you know,
that planner and then the ankle. He's like, it was

(54:31):
never in the conversation because of those two injuries straight
out of the gate. He's like, but he goes, look,
the reality is these guys get hurt in the pocket.
If I can roll him out, then he can see
it and he knows where the danger is. If I'm
planting him in there, he does not know where the
danger's coming from. He's like, so I've always you know,
and look at his track record. I mean, you're talking

(54:53):
about guys that he constantly has running and so that's
that's just the philosophy of his That's.

Speaker 2 (54:59):
A good point he made.

Speaker 3 (54:59):
But because I remember, the stigma of Lamar Jackson was
that he got injured a lot. And the crazy part
about it, he never If you watch Lamar Jackson, he's
never ever and it's a fact, been hurt outside of
the pocket.

Speaker 4 (55:12):
Right.

Speaker 2 (55:13):
All his injuries have come from him being in the pocket.

Speaker 4 (55:16):
Yeah, fact where it gets muddy and there's bodies everywhere
and you can't see it coming. And so for a
guy who's clocking in at six six two forty and
is running a four five forty or low four six forty,
let's go, dude, Let's let's get out there and let's
mash some dudes. I'd love to see your replay of
his first career start and he's not going a linebacker silly.

Speaker 1 (55:38):
Just like just slide slide, just like that was like,
that's why Robert Griffin the thirds career was short. He
couldn't well, every time he went out of the pocket.
It was a disaster. He couldn't because he's.

Speaker 4 (55:49):
Six one two and fifteen pounds. You know. That's that
that was the problem with RG three and you know.
That's that's the big concern about Jayden Daniels is you
know he is like the whole thing about Russell Wilson. Remember,
they're like, oh, he's not gonna be able to keep that. Well,
Russell Wilson's built like a tank, you know. Same with
Kyler Murray Goose. Yeah, they're squatty and they're strong, like
Jade Daniels and RG three. These guys are slent there,

(56:11):
narrow shouldered, slender guys, and so that's where and even
you know, but it can be done because Lamar Jackson
is that way, and that was the big concern, like,
you can't have this guy running around the way he's built.
And some guys are just a depth at it, you know.
That's I had a coach one say to me that
Russell Wilson, they're like, Russell Wilson is Floyd Mayweather. He
will never take a direct shot. The guy just knows

(56:33):
how to get his body at the right angle to
not take that shot. That's I'm sorry, Yeah.

Speaker 1 (56:39):
It's decision making. Yeah, we're talking about other teams, different
eras guys. This is gonna be a fun year, man.
I'm happy for all the guys. Who made the fifty three.
Now we can talk about the games starting next week
in Brazil. I cannot believe we are eight days from
the season over Bay year. I can't wait. Jalil, looking

(57:02):
forward to having you throughout the year. My man Money,
I will see you in Brazil next week.

Speaker 4 (57:06):
Brother, exactly right, travel Staates, go bolt off.

Speaker 1 (57:10):
Everybody, let's go for Jalil and Money. I'm Chris. This
has been charges