October 17, 2025 • 41 mins
On this episode of Chargers Weekly, Bolts radio play-by-play announcer Matt “Money” Smith and host Chris Hayre recap the latest news involving LA and the entire NFL. The hosts discuss the Bolts’ Week 6 victory over the Miami Dolphins, including kudos to the special teams unit with kicker Cameron Dicker scoring 17 of the team’s 29 points. They then preview the Week 7 matchup vs the Indianapolis Colts, where the Chargers will debut their golden Charger Power uniforms against quarterback Daniel Jones and Head Coach Shane Steichen, the former LA Chargers Offensive Coordinator. Presented by Splitero.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Late fifteen to ten touched up. What's Up? Guys, Welcome
into a week seven edition of Chargers Weekly. We are
presented by Splitterio back in the content studio is always
joined by the voice of the Chargers, Matt Muddy Smith
(00:21):
and Money. I don't know if it was excitement, maybe
more relief that the Chargers got that win down in
South Beach.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
You know, if you watch the mini movie, and if
you haven't, you should, I'm guessing you probably did. They're
the freaking best. But it opens with DJ talking about
how weird it is to say it's a must win
in week six for a team that's currently leading the
AFC West. But it felt that way just based on
how the prior two weeks went, So there was some
(00:49):
pressure there, there was some trepidation, and to see the
way the guys played and what ultimately started out as
a rock fight and then turned into a tight contest
was impressive. You know, you've got to be able to
overcome adversity in game and throughout the course of a season,
and I thought they were able to do both of
those things in Miami.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, a lackluster first half where you know you're zero
for three, in the red zone, you're kicking field goals
and then goodness, you have camera Dicker who can hit
it from fifty eight even if it doesn't count. But
the fact that they stood in it and the beginning
of the second half is really where the game kind
of shifted. You score on your first possession, Ben Saint
Juice picks off Tua, then you score again.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, And I'll tell you, like just early on, you know,
I like to do the I do the instagrams when
we get home usually after games, and just kind of whatever.
It's stream of consciousness sort of stuff for about an hour,
and I noticed a lot of people in there in
the comments were bemoaning the fact that you know that
(01:50):
Jim Harbot doesn't go for it on fourth down ever,
that you know they went for it once in that game,
but you've got and that was the weird thing. And
it's something that certainly Greg Roman and the offense has
to attack and figure out, because you know, their third
down conversions in the first half were not good, and
they weren't self inflicted. These weren't third and fifteens and
third and tens. These were third and ones and third
(02:11):
and twos, And so when you're not getting those. Now
you've got fourth and ones and fourth and two's and
they're kicking field goals. And sort of my pushback on
that was, look, I think it's it's not just across
the board. Hey, Dan Campbell goes for every fourth down
no matter where, that's his identity. No, I think you
have to recognize what is what is the nature of
this game, what is the personality of this game? And
(02:34):
that to me, I think it's just the best way
to describe it is it was a rock fight, and
it's like, get your points, Just get your points, because
your defense is probably, you know, gonna play okay, and
you're not really sure about how your offense is moving
with these tackles and what you have to build out there.
So if you have an opportunity to get three, go
get three. So I had no problem with the field goals.
What and I don't want to say I had a
(02:54):
problem with but I think something they need to figure
out is what's going on in the red zone and
what's going on these third and shorts and why are
we coming up on the wrong side of it repeatedly?
Just like real quick, Chris right now, Chargers thirty five
percent in the red zone, Like that's it's not going
to get it done. It's crazy, Like it's crazy when
you think back to last year and how we were
(03:15):
talking about, Man, if you could just get some more
weapons for Herbert and this offense to compliment this dominant defense,
what this could look like. They were at fifty five
percent last year in the red zone. That's and yet
you've got Trey Harris and KeAndre Lambert Smith and run
They Gadsden and Amari and Hampton and Nashi Harris for
a minute, You've got all of these weapons you added,
and it's down to the last two weeks, the last
(03:38):
three weeks, it's been at thirty percent. Just to put
that in perspective real quick as I'm rambling here, the
Eagles are number one at eighty eight percent, The Bengals
are seventy seven percent, Miami is seventy five percent. You
are down at thirty five percent. Like, those are the
things that I think they need to sort out. And
I think that's probably why they took the field goals
because it has been an issue down there.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
When you have the best kicker in football, it's easy
just take the automatic points. And I also think it's
a case of just kind of knowing your personnel. I mean,
I don't think we can blabor the point. They were
down so many dudes. Right when you're down, you're already
down Joe Alton, Shawn Slater. Right, you're down Trey Pipkins
and Jamari Sawyer. You're down your top two running backs.
You're down arguably your wide receiver one in Quinton Johnston.
(04:20):
There's no Khalil Mack, surprisingly no Denzel Perriman in this game.
So you're finding ways to just survive in advance. And
that's that's kind of how I felt like the game
was going. It's just like, let's get the points. Let's
just get out of Florida with a win by any
means necessary. You saw the offense and it was encouraging
to see them come together, especially in that second half.
(04:43):
But like you said, it was back and forth at
fourth quarterman, the defense kind of lets them back in
it and you time out with forty six seconds. It
was it was crushing to see Darren Waller catch that touchdown,
but when you see the way that that unfolded, yeah,
that's that's got to be cleaned up. But forty six
seconds left and a timeout with the best kicker on football.
You knew they had a chance and it was a
(05:04):
collective team effort to win it.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Yeah, I mean collective is the key there, right when
you think about Naim Miller Hines, someone we talked about
when they were making the fifty three and just what
he can do on kickoffs, A guy that in his
career has got two return for a touchdown as a
career long of one hundred and two and has always
proved to be not just a depth but excels in
that phase of the game. And for whatever reason, that
(05:26):
kick found him. And you know, when you've got two
choices and it's either kls Or or Nahim Miller Hines,
I guess we should call him what NMH And he
ends up getting, you know, shot like a rocket up
to the forty one yard line. I don't think you
can minimize what that does for a team, Like, oh wosh,
we're not back at the twenty two and we got
to go forty yards.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
We'orth the forty one.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
You're almost in his range for Cam Dick. I mean
he booted that fifty eight yard or that got taken
off the board. You're like, we're fifteen yards away, Like
we're we're twenty yards away from Cam being able to
put this thing from getting into his range.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
And that just changes the way you call.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Plays, you know, and then you know, collective effort, collectively,
Justin Herbert individually extending the first two plays. It's not
just the second one, but avoiding the sack on that
first How many how.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Many quarterbacks make that plays?
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Allen? Yeah, I think you're talking about the horses, right,
You're talking about the guys that are built, you know,
Drake May, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert. It's those quarterbacks. And
I think that's where, you know, not to get into
a philosophical team building conversation, but I think that's where
sort of front offices can get it wrong when they're like, oh,
you know, yeah, he's got the build and he's got
(06:35):
the big arm, but that's not what we look for.
It's like, no, that's important, like being being a titan
amongst other quarterbacks and being six foot six and two
hundred and forty five pounds is where that comes in handy.
And you know, talking to Lorenzo Neil earlier this week,
he's like, you know, and it speaks to his era
of football. He's like, man, i'm watching. I'm just like,
(06:56):
that's Big Ben. He's like, I'm watching Big Ben up
and that's exactly whatever of.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, to switch his hand to put it back in
his throwing hand, get it to Ladd, the move that
Ladd made to make a man miss the effort by
Zion even though he had really nothing to do with
to play. Just I think the hustle inspires you as
a team. Hassan Haskins the way he was blocking to
get two blocks in that play, And I think you
mentioned this earlier in the week. Man, you can't overstate JK.
(07:23):
Scott's ability to hold on to the snap for Cam
to do what he does hit his fifth field goal.
And you know Naim Miller hines one thousand and eight
days between his last regular season game in this one
to have a play like that to keep the Chargers
afloat still in first place in the AFC with a
big matchup that we'll get into on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, you mentioned JK and you know the field goal.
I'll just I said this a couple times because I
almost felt like I needed to apologize to the people listening.
I was like, look, it's the worst booth in the NFL.
It's it's hard to see. Probably you guys are next
next to the press We're very low, so we're the
opposite corner of you in the press box. The suite
(08:04):
is very that the broadcast with is very low and
it's deep, so you're about forty yards off of the field.
You know, in a if you were to just take
like a direct diagonal from the corner of the end
zone and split it like you were, I don't know
what you would call it, either a forty five degree angle.
That's where you are, and you're very so you can't see.
(08:25):
So I'm using binoculars to be able to watch the operation.
And when I say that it felt like a year
that that one third of one second when I saw
that ball snap through my binoculars and I watched JK
have to completely contort his body. I just immediately was like,
you're going to be carding like it just like this
is not how it's going to end. You got to
(08:46):
be kidding me. So the fact that he dug it
out and that cam didn't even break stride, Like I
know where that ball is going to be. I don't care,
you know, what it looks like because obviously you're the kicker,
you're going to catch that in your periphery. It really
wasn't oppressive and just goes back to your point of
it being, you know, collective effort. I think that's where
you know, people forget with coach Ficken what he would
(09:07):
repeatedly say last year when he would talk to the
media about how it's not just Cam, and Cam will
be the first to tell you that it's the whole operation.
It's you know, it's Josh Harris, and it's you know, JK. Scott,
and it's and it's Cam Dicker together, and I think,
you know, without Josh Harris, the best long snapper in
the league, you're seeing the value of JK not just
as a punter, but as a holder and really you know,
(09:30):
being as responsible for that win and that particular moment
is any player on the field.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
I think we both had a hunch that if the
Charges were going to win that game, you would be
calling names that you typically don't call on Sundays for
them to win it. And you know, keimani Videll listen,
I saw what Rico Daddell did the week before, and
he knew that maybe Kemani had a chance to break
a few, but he was.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
He was spectacular.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Eighteen carries, one hundred and twenty four yards, He had
that touchdown through the air, the ability to run the football,
to have somebody to rely upon, someone who was cut
from the fifty three, who stayed the course, and with
Amarian and Naji, two guys that we've talked about all
off season that we didn't expect to not have both
of them in this twenty twenty five season. For Hassan
(10:16):
to do what he typically does, but that for Kimani
to really kind of have the juice to match a
chant really with some of those splash pit plays. But
it was remarkable.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yeah, and I think for people and look, Baldy, we
love Brian Baldinger. He does a great job with his
Baldi breakdowns. And when he did his Kamani Videll Baldi breakdown,
he was pointing out to the just the fact that
Miami couldn't set an edge to save their lives, and
that's great and he's absolutely right. They couldn't, and that's
why all the action was on the edges. You know,
(10:46):
there was almost nothing between the tackles. Everything, especially even
when it was schemed up to go between the tackles.
You saw the one where Kamani bounced it on that
right side when Trey was the poller, almost like a
move tight end. He's pulling and he tries to help
open that whole and it's just not there. No one's
set in the edge. So he bounces it and it
goes for like twenty eight yards. But my point on
that is, I feel like this year compared to last year.
(11:10):
Last year, I felt like this team took advantage of
every other team's weaknesses and that's how they got those wins.
And it was the wins over team. It was the
game like they didn't lose any games they should have won.
You know, that was one of the things that led
to eleven wins last year. As you're playing a backup quarterback,
all right, win the game. You're playing the worst run
defense in the NFL. Right, let's get a run game going.
Win the game. And they were able to do that.
(11:31):
And this year I felt like kind of got away
from especially in Washington. Washington came in with one of
the worst rush defenses in the NFL and they couldn't
get it going. And so to me, it's not just
oh yeah, well they should gash this Dolphins team that's
been abysmal against the run. They've been thirty first in
the league. They're allowing one hundred and fifty per Well, yeah,
then do it, you know, make sure that even though
(11:52):
you don't have Amar and Hampton, and you don't have
Najie Harris, and you don't have your tackles, you know,
and one of your guards is maybe you know, with
an issue and Mackai Beckton that went out there and
gutted it out, just do it. And they were able to.
And a big part of that, like you said, was
Keimani himself recognizing, all right, I'm gonna bounce these that
they're they're getting after our interior a little bit. So
(12:13):
I'm just gonna bounce and run these things on the edges.
And it led to some real big gainers.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Let's shout out an unsung hero too, who he only
had four catches for twenty seven yards, but he got
a game ball. And Trey Harris Man and just his
ability to block with Quintin down, you knew he was
going to get more reps. And Justin even said it
in his presser, like Trey just wants to be out there,
doesn't matter if he's blocking, catching balls, scoring touchdowns. He
wants to find a way to be out there, and
(12:38):
he certainly helped the team.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Yeah, it's it's interesting, you know, if Q comes back
this week, if we'll see him get more snaps doing
what Keenan, you know, in the prime of his career,
was so good at doing. You know, Keenan one of
the best blocking receivers out there, and I think just
where he is currently in his career, it's a little
bit tougher for him to to you know, take I
mean he's pulling, Like I said, they're using him as
(13:02):
a fullback as a move tight end at times, and
there he's seiling Bradley Chubb and like, I just don't
know if that's really I know, Keenan is, he's all four.
He'll put his face in there, sure, but I don't
know if that's what you really want him to do.
So I'm anxious to see if Trey is now ascended
to that point where he's getting more of those eleven
personnel snaps with Q and Ladd because of how good
(13:23):
he's been on the run. And look, don't I think
because of those. I think it was nine total, if
I remember watching the play, count nine of those run
snaps that he was involved in. But I don't think
you minimize the four catches for twenty seven either. The
couple of those were fantastic and like just showed that
wiggle and some of that explosiveness and the yak because
(13:44):
it was all yak. It was all yards after catch
on Sunday. And because of those tackles and the help
they they had, there was a lot of twelve and
a lot of twenty two out there and even some
thirteen personnel because of your you know, like you said,
your fifth and six string tackles and just giving them
the help they might need. And so there was just
a lot of quick hitters and a lot of yak.
And I thought traded a great job. Those those four
(14:06):
catches might have been I don't know, eight air yards
and you're probably talking about nineteen yak yards on those
four catches, and I thought I thought he was sensational.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Yeah, Keenan had the same exact stat line four for
twenty seven, and a couple of those were on third down,
you know, automatic third and Keenan, But I really think
the lead in the wide receivers room was just I
think Lad woke up seven for one hundred. You know,
forty two came on that one, but he scored a
touchdown to the beginning of the second half, and I
just I look at the body of work that Lad
(14:37):
had his rookie year, and you know, it was a
tough game a couple of weeks ago against the Giants,
but I feel like that this may be the leaping
off point for Lad McConkey to really get back to
the form that he showed us through like a seventeen
game season last year.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Well, it's a perfect opportunity for us to flip this
forward as well for the Colts that they've had issues
in their second year. Their front is good, but look,
the Miami front is good. You know, we saw that
with Bradley Chubb and Jalen phillips on. And look at
that waffle in that sweatshirt just got some coffee. Damn
should I see that? That's a damn shame, Chris.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I'm feeling good about this shirt, you know what I think.
And you know what, guys, we're taping this in the morning,
so this is gonna be with me all day.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Feeling good about it.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Listen, you have one of those shout wipes or something.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
When you can travel as much as we do, Chris,
you know, you gotta always make sure that you're prepared.
And so here we go. Let's see if in fact
I can I can come to your rescue.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Little Adversity in week seven here, Little Adversity, And I
thought I was going to be able to, but no where.
I think I think I got something in my book bag.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I'll, uh, let's see if you're more prepared than I am.
I thought I had it, but I think I got something.
After the podcast, I'll address the just too pretty.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I like you uh, you guys don't need to see
it though, I got the laptop in front of me.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Where were we? Oh lad flipping it forward? Yes?
Speaker 3 (15:54):
The look the front in Miami great. You know the
secondary has had some issues, and I think that's what
you saw in that game as well. Like we said,
it was a lot of just quick passes and yak yards,
and so I think it'll be very similar this week
in what you're seeing with what the Colts present, specifically
on the interior with the forest buckner and just sort
(16:14):
of those quick pressures that I think you know, this
team has unfortunately had to deal with week in and
week out, and we've talked about it. You know, you
can redirect on the edges, you can give, you can
provide help to the edges. You know, I thought you men,
Ronde Gasson had a great game.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Block he did, and you know he bounced back after
the full block. I think that's the mark of a
player to you fumble in the first half, your rookie.
You're back in Miami where your dad played, where you
grew up for him to kind of shake that off.
It talked to him in the locker room after the
game to just kind of shake it off. It was
early enough in the game to have seven for sixty
eight along a twenty one. He's shown us quite a
(16:49):
bit the last few weeks that I think he's going
to be.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
A player for a while. The whole family was right
in front of our booth, so wow, really yeah. There
were probably twelve to fifteen of them, all in T
shirt and you know they had specially made T shirts
that had his number and his name, Gadsden the second
on the back. And so I bring it up to
your point, like, here's a guy that's you know, first
catch of the game, and it's a big gainer and
(17:11):
he's just trying to and look those you never want
to see a player turn it over, but those sort
of plays, it's like he saw the sticks. He's like,
all right, if I get my hand down, I can
get this first down. It's not going to be you know,
second in one, it's going to be first and ten.
And so it was just a perfect hit by the defender,
you know, as he's trying to extend for that extra
yard to pick up the first down, you lose the ball.
(17:32):
But like you said, he and I think you're going
to see it and the snap counts, how the team
feels about him, how Justin Herbert feels about him, and
for him to go back to him eight more time?
Was it seven more times? For six more games?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
He was targeted nine times.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Yeah, so you're talking about whatever, all good, and I
think that's part of it too. It's like, now that's
not a careless you're next to the sideline. Why is
the ball on your left hand, you know, or you're
right hand, depending on what sideline you're you're on, Like,
it's not one of those fumbles, it's a it's an
effort play. Let's say it's a guy trying to help
his team out. But but yeah, so I think going
back to your point about Lad, when I look at
(18:08):
the way, you know, you've got Latt, you've got Quitty
pay to Forest Buckner up front. Those guys can can
make some noise. And so if it's gonna look like
it did last week, let's hope it doesn't. But if
it does, then I think you're gonna be probably talking
about something very similar. And I think there's opportunities for
Lad to do what he does, the jitterbug stuff that
(18:28):
can lead to some of those big gainers, you know,
whipping out a routes, stopping on and cutting on a
dime and leaving dudes stuck in the turf. That that
that's probably what it's gonna have to look like.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Cardinals had the lead in the fourth quarter on the
road against against the Colts. I think they were up
either ten or eight, maybe it was ten.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
I think at one point they were up ten, maybe
not in the fourth. It was like it was back
and forth the entire second half. But to not have
Kyler Murray the game. Jacoby Brissett throws for over three
hundred yards. So again, that just kind of lies right
into your point. They were down everybody. That's the thing
about Arizona. They're on their practice squad running back. I mean,
it sounds to me if it sounds familiar, they're on
a backup course.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
The Mercato, I think, had one carrying the game because
he loved with an ankle, exactly like your fourth running.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Back Bam Knight and Michael Carter are out there carrying
the ball. Jakobea presents your perset as your quarterback. Marvin
Harrison Junior leaves in the first half of the concussion.
So that's what you're talking about. And at one point,
you know, this team, like you said, is twenty yeah,
twenty four to seventeen at the start of the fourth quarter.
So I think that just kind of speaks to Look,
(19:30):
the Colts offense is a juggernaut. It's it's as good
as any offense in the NFL right now.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
They will get into the challenges that they present, especially
with kind of the challenges the charges defense has had
the last two weeks.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Yeah, I mean, and that's and so that's you know,
talking about complete game. That's kind of why I bring
up the you know, the the lad McConkey, Like, yeah, defense,
you've got to score points. This this we started with
the red zone and the third downs, and like, this
is not a game that you're gonna win. It's probably
not a game you're gonna win twenty four to seventeen.
(20:04):
It's not a game you're gonna win twenty one to fourth.
It's this is a game where you're gonna have to
chase thirty points. Not that I don't have faith in
Jesse Minner and that crew of guys on defense, but
just how good.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
They are up front.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
You know, Bordolini at center, Quinton Nelson's playing like the
best garden football again. Raymond's turned into a heck of
a tackle. The tight ends are an issue, man, They're
a big, big issue. Tyler Warren Man and you know,
and the funny thing is is now that he it's
not funny. It's not funny at all. It's a nightmare.
He's getting so much attention now. Moiley Cox when they're
(20:40):
running two tight end sets, is wide open, Like he
is just wide open on so many of these dropbacks
for these big gainers in the scene. Josh Dowins, I
know didn't practice. We're doing this Thursday morning. Didn't practice yesterday.
I think he was he concussed or I don't remember
what happened to him. But man, he's so fast and
like that's the thing for Daniel Jones. It's the perfect play.
(21:00):
It's a great play caller. The pocket is clean, you know,
because of that offensive line in front of him.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
And that's the issue with.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Daniel Jones, right is if it gets ugly and he
gets pressured, he makes some crazy throws and does some
crazy stuff and that just hasn't happened. He's, you know,
to borrow a term from DJ. You know, are you
a truck or you a trailer? Justin Herbert's a truck, Yeah,
Daniel Jones a trailer. You know they're pulling him, but
you know, can you drive the truck effectively enough to
(21:28):
make sure you get your cargo where it needs to go?
And he's done that exceptionally this season and spreading the
ball around and turning Tyler Warren into a player that's
going to lead us to forget about brock bauer a
season last year because it's just so much different. It's
so much more impressive. Man taking handoffs out of the backfield,
jet sweeps blocking and like flattening a linebacker that's trying
(21:50):
to rush on the edge and then finding himself ten
yards downfield for a pass because the zone is vacated,
and then going for twenty more like it's you know,
I love Shane Stike is one of my favorite I'm
excited for him, But man, is he doing some really
cool stuff in Indianapolis this year.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Yeah, you mentioned Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren, you got Michael Pittman,
the Trojan coming back home. You look at the Colts
and Chargers have had three common opponents. Week one, the
Colts blew out the Dolphins thirty three to eight. They
destroyed the Raiders, destroyed them forty to six. They beat
the Broncos in the last second in Week two on
(22:28):
a fluky play on a fluky special team's play fifteen
yard penalty. So you look at the offense and just
what a juggernaut it is, and it kind of leads
us into the defense and some of the issues the
Chargers have had the last couple of weeks. Let's take
a quick break on the other side. We'll talk about
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(22:48):
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(23:11):
I go back to Washington and Bill Crosskey Merritt and
just what he was able to do. You talked about
just the inability to set the edge. We saw that
the play after the Ronde Gatsen fumble eight Chan goes
forty nine yards essentially untouched for a touchdown. And then
you mentioned maybe the leader in the clubhouse right now
for offensive player of the year, Jonathan Taylor coming to town.
(23:34):
A Dafayoway coming in I think is a good thing.
But maybe getting Denzel Perriman back is another good thing.
But this Jonathan Taylor man, you can't let him beat
you on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
No.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
And that's like the big issue that's and it's a
strange issue. I'd never thought i'd see it based on
what we saw last year, and that's just the mistackle rate.
The mistackle rate right now for the Chargers is at
a number that just it's odd, you know, because last
year they were one of the most sound tackling teams
in football. And when you look at it, it's across
(24:06):
the board, it's and it's their best players, you know,
it's it's Tuley, it's Derwin, it's Troy Dye that's out there.
And you bring up Paraman and I think, to me,
one of the bigger issues and and I know, look,
you know what I think about Jesse Minner and guys
should be a head coach. He's so darned good. But
I think what we're going to see because he's been
so good at adjusting, it's not like, you know, we've
(24:28):
talked to him and he's like, it's not my scheme,
it's what what do I have the players?
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Who?
Speaker 3 (24:31):
What do they do best? How can I put them
in the best position? To me, this team's got to
be in a heavy front. Like it's just I want
to see the three tackles and I want to see
the two edges and with Oway now added, and with
Tuley there, with Bud who's really good at setting the
edge in the run game. I just there's it seems
like a lot of those issues are creeping up when
(24:52):
it's just two guys, when it's just four upfront and
they're playing dime or they're playing nickel, And to me,
it's a little bit more of a let's Nakuon tierre
called well, whatever combination you want it to be. You know,
if it's a boyd be obviously with handout or Tito
or what like. To me, the best combo is called, well,
Nakuon and Tart. Let's get those three up front and
(25:12):
then figure out if you want it to be a
boy B and Tuley or if you want it to
be O Way and Tuley. But that to me solves
a lot of that because like Nakuon takes on double teams.
When we had him sitting here, we were talking about it,
he does it better than anyone. And then that allows
your run fits, you know, your Dan Henley's and your
Denzel paramus to start playing downhill. I feel like when
I go back and watch, there's just so many times
(25:34):
when these guards are getting up to those guys and
that's what's springing these and they're you know, the mistackles
are coming in because they're armed, they're trying to get
off of these blocks from these guards. And so to me,
it's just resetting and getting back to that and what
we saw all last year and what we saw at
the start of this season. And for whatever reason, like
what is it right now the last three they've allowed
one hundred and fifty four rushing yards per game. You know,
(25:56):
it's JK, It's Crosskey marrit Or, it's the Jackson Dark
plus Scataboo. And I think you could even go last
four because of what JK did to him as well
with those explosives. So I think it's cleaning that up,
and you got to clean it up against the Colts
because play action, that's this is a big We saw
it with Herbert. I mean, think about Herbert and play
action his rookie season. Those bombs that he was setting
(26:16):
up the Tampa Bay game comes to mind, you know,
with just play action bomb, t Billy Bomb, Jalen Guidon,
and like that's what Shane's doing with Daniel Jones is
you know, Jonathan Taylor is such a problem that those
play action passes are now really really effective and freezing
guys and having just a lot of green out there
for him to find, just wide open dudes.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
You know, Jones has wheels too. You know, we saw
Jackson darks a lot of those design runs up in
the meadowlands ten for fifty four, Jayden didn't do as
much because I think he was maybe it's still a
little hobble with that knee. But you know, mahomes in
week one, you know what, you know what, this kind
of stretch reminds me of money. The defense was so
rock solid last year, but do you remember that that
(27:00):
second half of the Tampa game that kind of spilled
into the first half of the Broncos game where it
just it didn't look like Jesse Minter's defense and they
cleaned it up. So you hope that you could kind
of maybe and again, this is a tough opponent to
do it against Jonathan Taylor, but you kind of kind
of put stop it here, stop at it ahead here
against Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones. And the thing about
(27:21):
the Colts and the Chargers guys, is that they're the
only two undefeated teams in the AFC. In terms of
AFC record, I think the Colts are either five and
oh or four to zero and the Chargers are obviously
four to oh in the AFC. So the winner of
this game is going to be the loan team with
an undefeated record against AFC opponents.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Yeah, it's Look, it's a big one. It's a playoff.
Previous playoff implications. Last week's win was big because it's
a tiebreaker. What is your record against in conference opponents
outside of division? You know, that becomes look, head to head,
then division record, then conference records. So you know, if
we think this AFC West is going to be tight
with the Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos, then you know, these
(28:00):
these are the games there losing the two to the
Giants and the Commanders were the two to lose, you know.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
And so not all wins and losses are no.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
These look, they don't count double like the AFC West
games do, but you know they are. It's part of
the tiebreaker. So it's it goes head to head in
division record and then conference records.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
So yes, that's that's the key.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
And I think, you know, with the Colts, I like,
I don't know what to what to make of them
just because of the opponents, because you know, of look,
they blew out the Raiders. They blew out the Dolphins.
They struggled against the Cardinals, which you know, it was
kind of weird, but at the same probably beat them
here at so far. Probably, Yeah, the eighty Mitchell drop
(28:42):
going into the end zone. So like they've shown you
enough to suggest, Yeah, this is one of the elite teams.
It's it's an elite offense. This is this is one
of the truly elite sides of the ball in the
NFL that everybody has had an issue slowing down. That's
I guess that's the best way I would describe them,
Like are they do they look like a jugger?
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Not?
Speaker 3 (29:01):
No, they just look like an incredible offense that you better.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
It's not the pack your lunch pail on your hard hat. No,
it's I don't know what you would call it on offense.
I'm sure the guys wouldn't appreciate a pant, I don't know,
pack your dance pants or whatever you want to talk about.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Like whatever you do, whatever puts.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Points on the boards, man, Like, that's that's what this
game is, you know, because that's whatever. They've scored thirty
forty points in these games, so you know, it's not.
It's not a punchy in the face rock fight kind
of game. It's more of a pack pants. Yeah, dude,
it's like getting start dancing out there, lance, lad because
that's that's what we're looking for, Like they're looking for touchdowns,
(29:37):
you need sevens. And also I think, you know, I
think that it's still there, Like it's because look, the
Miami offense was explosive too. Like, remember, the Miami offense
still was putting up a ton of points even though
they had these losses.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Yah, but while on ninety you get a big explosive too.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
And I think that in the same as a chan
you know. And so what do we say before that game?
Just muddy up the picture for Tua because he'll give
you some. And I think that's the same sort of idea.
And yet they still scored, you know, twenty seven points.
So it's I think it's the same thing with the Colts.
Just muddy that picture. Make Daniel Jones really uncomfortable because
he'll give you some. He had he threw a bad
(30:17):
pick last week, and unfortunately for us, it would have
been nice if the Cardinals beat the Colts. The Colts
gave it right back, but then he had another one
that went right through the hands. I don't remember who
it was, who the corner was, but I mean it
was thrown directly to him. Just didn't even see the creep,
the corner creeping. And like we saw in the mini
movie with Darwin, I told you boy, I told you
was coming. You know, you know that that Darwin's gonna
(30:38):
put these guys in the right spot to make the
right play. And and you know, Ben Saint Justus has
been playing great. He's been you know, we heard from
coach Minner when he joined us before the season about
how he did want to play more man and he's
I'd even see him, like to see him play more
man with Saint Shus. He's got the physicality, he's got
the size, but he's been mirroring routes really well and
(30:58):
so that I'm glad to see him get that, to
kind of get that reward, especially after the Washington game
kind of got away from them a little bit.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
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eight seven seven three seven three five zero six to
two to secure your ticket package today week seven. It's
never too early to look at the playoff picture. And
this is this is an idea in the AFC South
(31:50):
where like three of the teams are actually pretty good.
Like the Textans started zero three, they won their last two,
and I think that they're going to kind of creep
their way back into that AFC South race. We saw
with Jacksonville against the Chiefs kind of stuff their toe
against the Seahawks. So to have the head to head
against the Colts this early, we see the Chiefs coming on.
We knew they were gonna start coming on. The Broncos
haven't lost since coming to Sofither, you know, four and two.
(32:15):
So I just I look at the AFC in general
and like, Okay, these are the games that you have
to win in an effort to kind of put yourself
in that playoff picture. And it kind of leads me
to you know, we talked about Kimani and this isn't
really a topic for this Sunday, but maybe over the
next couple of weeks, and once you get on marian back,
it's just like the running back market. Is there a
(32:37):
running back out there that you think you can pair
amri In with and Kimani with down the stretch because
I think at this point it's it's still a little
thin right now.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
Yeah, I think it just depends on you know, I
don't know the status of a Marion and what that
ankle is.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Is it four weeks? Is it eight weeks?
Speaker 3 (32:54):
You know, they said it's at least four weeks and
maybe and not season. I think was the last answer
that we got. So to me is if that is
more toward the eight week sort of side of things,
then Yeah. As great as Kimani looked, I think you're
talking about trying to go find someone and there's Look,
there's one name that makes more sense than all others,
and it's Brize Hall.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
I said the guy in New York. Yeah, they're rowing six.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
And that they didn't pick up his fifth year or
I don't know if they did, or they didn't pick
up his fifth year option.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
I can't remember. I think they did.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
I think they So he's on a fifty year option.
He's not you know, the long term contract extension. You
know that the extension talks went nowhere. So I think
that's one where it lines up. You know, it lines
up where he can you can drop him in and
you know he's and if he's on a fifth year
option next year, then he's affordable and you've got these
(33:44):
two guys, you know that you can roll next year
as well, and it's worth giving up some capital now. Also,
I think for the Jets it's just a matter of
is he a long term because he's a heck of
a back. I don't know why you would want to
give up on him if you have him on an
affordable fifth year option.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Next year, especially if Braylan Allen out in from a
year two.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
And it's just like, but are you going anywhere? Like
what's we're seeing it in Vegas right in some of
the common commentary about Ashton genty no one's well, only
Ryan Clark, that dope is saying that he's not a
great back, but outside of him, everybody, no one's like, hey,
Ashton Genty's not great. What they're saying is is it
smart to drop the running back?
Speaker 1 (34:18):
I'd laughing because it was such a ridiculous he didn't
have the in factor in week two, I was a
rooky year.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
How many time like you.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Didn't have the it factor?
Speaker 2 (34:25):
It's just one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
I don't know how many times a guy can apologize
on a show for saying something stupid, Like, at what
point you're like, hey, let's not have this guy on
the show anymore because he keeps apologizing.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Sorry, where was I?
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (34:39):
That's the question, is like, what's the value of dropping
it back into a team that's not ready to chase
a Super Bowl?
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Ring?
Speaker 3 (34:46):
And that's why I'm Auray and have to make so
much sense for the Charger's like, yeah, drop him in, We've.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Got everything else.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
It's sorry, yeah, you know, but but yeah, I mean
anyone could see that Ashton j he's incredible. Yeah, Breece
Hall's great, and he's a he's an explosive back, But
what is his value on a Jets team that's zero
and six? Is going to be back in the quarterback
market next year and probably playing a rookie someone that
they drafted in the top five.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
So that's where to me it lines up.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
And obviously with Chad Alexander's history there, you know, it
makes sense that you can make it, just like Joe
made the deal for o Way because of all of
his time in Baltimore, and obviously Chad was in Baltimore
with him as well. But Chad's part of the staff
that drafted Breeze Hall. He's got connections with that team
to be able to line it up. I do think
that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
What other backs is Derrick Henry in a few weeks,
I don't know. They're one and five at this point,
and again that division is so bad. If Pittsburgh stubs
are to the next couple of weeks, maybe Baltimore gets
back into it, but I think maybe that's not even
to watch over they no doubt.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
I think, like to me, Hall is the one that
makes sense, just because I just like the way these
backs look attacking the edges a little bit more. Whereas Henry,
you know, you need that ramp up. He's got it,
you know, the best way to slow down Derek Henry
is to get to him before he gets to the
line of scrimmage, and it just feels like those those
A and B gap runs haven't been as productive for
the Chargers as the Edges have. You know, we're seeing
(36:13):
a lot more cracked toss than we are, just kind
of straight between the tackles, you know, even less power,
we're not seeing it. We're seeing some more outside zone.
Just things that we didn't think we would really see
this year is kind of what we're seeing.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
To play to their strengths.
Speaker 1 (36:25):
You know, so much talk about the offensive line money
and I do think all things considered, you got to
give those guys some credit. I mean, I thought Zion,
Zion's playing great. Zion's playing great. Coach hardball, he a
lot of praise on him. This week. Zion talked about
Bobby Hart's Bobby Hart was learning the playbook last week. Yeah,
you know, like you have you have deculous, you have heart.
(36:46):
Pipkins did not practice on Wednesday, Sawyer was limited. Maybe
you get Sawyer back this Sunday, but this is going
to be another game where you're down a lot of
guys across the offensive line.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
Man, I think, you know, just speaking to the trade stuff,
you know, as we kind of put a rap on
this thing, that's also something. It's it's for everybody that's
hitting us up in the comments or on my whatever,
you know, when I'm doing the Instagram stuff on the
comments there. Teams don't trade starting offensive lineman. They just
they can't do it. It's too detrimental to the health
(37:16):
of your quarterback, to the health of your team, to
the help of your offense and what you're trying to run.
You're not going to trade. It is very, very hard
to trade a starting caliber tackle or guard.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
In the middle of the season.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
So you're you're shopping, you know, for backups and for
guys that maybe you feel like are in the wrong
scheme or haven't gotten enough of an opportunity. And so
to me, that's where the whole Evan Neil conversation comes
in from. You know, Bobby Hart has not started a
game since two thousand and one. Have been four years,
(37:48):
I'm sorry, twenty twenty one. Sorry, that'd be something.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
He's a seventy year old e on.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
No since twenty sorry twenty one, yes, thank you for
the correction.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Four years, So like that's a long time.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Yeah, so to me, like Evan Neil has been inactive
every single week and I know we're grading, you know,
his his ability based on his draft status that he
was a top ten pick and just has not panned
out and has not looked good. But that's one of
those where that's that's worth it to can you go
out and make That's the sort of deal I'm talking
about that you're looking.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
For a couple more things as we get to here.
The the all Golds on Sunday, Yeah, excided uniform talking
at the end of the show is what people like.
So yeah, I'm excited for those.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
To me, it's not just the all golds, it's that
they're they're fully committed that it's going to be a
news that the field is going to be Charger Power
also going to be the nineteen sixty style alums are
going to be in the building exactly. I know, Lorenzo
said he's coming down and then everybody's going to be here.
So it's gonna be it's gonna be a really incredible atmosphere.
And it's not just wearing all golds, but it's the
(38:50):
fact that the field's.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Going to look different.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
So if you're on the border of like, uh, should
I go?
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Go? It's gonna be cool.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
The fact that these next two games, over the course
of five days, we're gonna have Superchargers and then aby,
look on Thursday, field's gonna look I'm right in that, right,
they're redoing. Yeah, okay, so the field is gonna be
totally into is gonna be connected to the uniforms these
next two it's gonna be.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
A lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
I actually even got an old school Charger Power. Hopefully
they won't get upset. They gotta win the game. So
the mini movie gets posted. But excuse my T shirt
wearing outfit because I'm gonna wear the old Charger Power
T shirt that I was gifted from somebody.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
Well on Sunday, York. Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna wear that.
Why not. It's old, it's all ripped up and goofy looking.
So let's go. Let's go.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
And just the fact that there are two games and
you know, four or five days span. Getting guys back, right,
you know, Khalil's windows open. Now. I don't know if
he's gonna return Sunday or Thursday or the next Sunday,
but just to get guys back, week by week by week.
This is the the attrition of the NFL. Man, you
have to just find ways to win, exactly what they
(39:52):
did against the Dolphins.
Speaker 3 (39:53):
Yeah, look, it's we've talked about it, right, It's it's
treading water. It's just can you get through this? We
know these guys are coming back. We know it's not
season ending for a Marion Hampton, for Khalil Mack, for
Joe Alt, like, we know that these guys are just,
as coach Charbole likes to say, working through something that
And so can you can you go five? Can you
go three and one? Can we have another three and
(40:14):
one month? You've got these two games at home. The
Vikings are going to be playing the Eagles on Sunday.
You know that they're going to get the crud kicked.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Out of them.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
And then they've got a you know, with almost no practice,
fly across country, play a Thursday game after.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Is that Corson wentz JJ McCarthy, That's.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
What I mean.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
So like they've got so and their offensive line is
the snot speed out of them as well, So that
lines up, well, can you get this one against the
Colts and post another three and one month? And figure
this thing out at six and and three and feel
pretty good. Sorry six and two, uh, and feel pretty
good about the first two quarters of the season.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
All right, you got to go to the NLCS, I do.
I gotta get this coffee state of my shirt and
I thought I had your covered and I I gotta
stop laughing, dude, I was hilarious.
Speaker 3 (40:58):
Whatever, It's good thing. Nobody likes me, so like, that's
why I don't care.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
I loves you.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
We all love that loose friends when I have no
friends in the first plight. I think I've done a
local radio show for twenty years that's incredibly successful, yet
it's never turned into anything else because everybody else hates me.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
You are the best, dude, You are the best. For money,
I'm Chris. This has been charges with me.
Late fifteen to ten touched up. What's Up? Guys, Welcome
into a week seven edition of Chargers Weekly. We are
presented by Splitterio back in the content studio is always
joined by the voice of the Chargers, Matt Muddy Smith
(00:21):
and Money. I don't know if it was excitement, maybe
more relief that the Chargers got that win down in
South Beach.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
You know, if you watch the mini movie, and if
you haven't, you should, I'm guessing you probably did. They're
the freaking best. But it opens with DJ talking about
how weird it is to say it's a must win
in week six for a team that's currently leading the
AFC West. But it felt that way just based on
how the prior two weeks went, So there was some
(00:49):
pressure there, there was some trepidation, and to see the
way the guys played and what ultimately started out as
a rock fight and then turned into a tight contest
was impressive. You know, you've got to be able to
overcome adversity in game and throughout the course of a season,
and I thought they were able to do both of
those things in Miami.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, a lackluster first half where you know you're zero
for three, in the red zone, you're kicking field goals
and then goodness, you have camera Dicker who can hit
it from fifty eight even if it doesn't count. But
the fact that they stood in it and the beginning
of the second half is really where the game kind
of shifted. You score on your first possession, Ben Saint
Juice picks off Tua, then you score again.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, And I'll tell you, like just early on, you know,
I like to do the I do the instagrams when
we get home usually after games, and just kind of whatever.
It's stream of consciousness sort of stuff for about an hour,
and I noticed a lot of people in there in
the comments were bemoaning the fact that you know that
(01:50):
Jim Harbot doesn't go for it on fourth down ever,
that you know they went for it once in that game,
but you've got and that was the weird thing. And
it's something that certainly Greg Roman and the offense has
to attack and figure out, because you know, their third
down conversions in the first half were not good, and
they weren't self inflicted. These weren't third and fifteens and
third and tens. These were third and ones and third
(02:11):
and twos, And so when you're not getting those. Now
you've got fourth and ones and fourth and two's and
they're kicking field goals. And sort of my pushback on
that was, look, I think it's it's not just across
the board. Hey, Dan Campbell goes for every fourth down
no matter where, that's his identity. No, I think you
have to recognize what is what is the nature of
this game, what is the personality of this game? And
(02:34):
that to me, I think it's just the best way
to describe it is it was a rock fight, and
it's like, get your points, Just get your points, because
your defense is probably, you know, gonna play okay, and
you're not really sure about how your offense is moving
with these tackles and what you have to build out there.
So if you have an opportunity to get three, go
get three. So I had no problem with the field goals.
What and I don't want to say I had a
(02:54):
problem with but I think something they need to figure
out is what's going on in the red zone and
what's going on these third and shorts and why are
we coming up on the wrong side of it repeatedly?
Just like real quick, Chris right now, Chargers thirty five
percent in the red zone, Like that's it's not going
to get it done. It's crazy, Like it's crazy when
you think back to last year and how we were
(03:15):
talking about, Man, if you could just get some more
weapons for Herbert and this offense to compliment this dominant defense,
what this could look like. They were at fifty five
percent last year in the red zone. That's and yet
you've got Trey Harris and KeAndre Lambert Smith and run
They Gadsden and Amari and Hampton and Nashi Harris for
a minute, You've got all of these weapons you added,
and it's down to the last two weeks, the last
(03:38):
three weeks, it's been at thirty percent. Just to put
that in perspective real quick as I'm rambling here, the
Eagles are number one at eighty eight percent, The Bengals
are seventy seven percent, Miami is seventy five percent. You
are down at thirty five percent. Like, those are the
things that I think they need to sort out. And
I think that's probably why they took the field goals
because it has been an issue down there.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
When you have the best kicker in football, it's easy
just take the automatic points. And I also think it's
a case of just kind of knowing your personnel. I mean,
I don't think we can blabor the point. They were
down so many dudes. Right when you're down, you're already
down Joe Alton, Shawn Slater. Right, you're down Trey Pipkins
and Jamari Sawyer. You're down your top two running backs.
You're down arguably your wide receiver one in Quinton Johnston.
(04:20):
There's no Khalil Mack, surprisingly no Denzel Perriman in this game.
So you're finding ways to just survive in advance. And
that's that's kind of how I felt like the game
was going. It's just like, let's get the points. Let's
just get out of Florida with a win by any
means necessary. You saw the offense and it was encouraging
to see them come together, especially in that second half.
(04:43):
But like you said, it was back and forth at
fourth quarterman, the defense kind of lets them back in
it and you time out with forty six seconds. It
was it was crushing to see Darren Waller catch that touchdown,
but when you see the way that that unfolded, yeah,
that's that's got to be cleaned up. But forty six
seconds left and a timeout with the best kicker on football.
You knew they had a chance and it was a
(05:04):
collective team effort to win it.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Yeah, I mean collective is the key there, right when
you think about Naim Miller Hines, someone we talked about
when they were making the fifty three and just what
he can do on kickoffs, A guy that in his
career has got two return for a touchdown as a
career long of one hundred and two and has always
proved to be not just a depth but excels in
that phase of the game. And for whatever reason, that
(05:26):
kick found him. And you know, when you've got two
choices and it's either kls Or or Nahim Miller Hines,
I guess we should call him what NMH And he
ends up getting, you know, shot like a rocket up
to the forty one yard line. I don't think you
can minimize what that does for a team, Like, oh wosh,
we're not back at the twenty two and we got
to go forty yards.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
We'orth the forty one.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
You're almost in his range for Cam Dick. I mean
he booted that fifty eight yard or that got taken
off the board. You're like, we're fifteen yards away, Like
we're we're twenty yards away from Cam being able to
put this thing from getting into his range.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
And that just changes the way you call.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Plays, you know, and then you know, collective effort, collectively,
Justin Herbert individually extending the first two plays. It's not
just the second one, but avoiding the sack on that
first How many how.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Many quarterbacks make that plays?
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Allen? Yeah, I think you're talking about the horses, right,
You're talking about the guys that are built, you know,
Drake May, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert. It's those quarterbacks. And
I think that's where, you know, not to get into
a philosophical team building conversation, but I think that's where
sort of front offices can get it wrong when they're like, oh,
you know, yeah, he's got the build and he's got
(06:35):
the big arm, but that's not what we look for.
It's like, no, that's important, like being being a titan
amongst other quarterbacks and being six foot six and two
hundred and forty five pounds is where that comes in handy.
And you know, talking to Lorenzo Neil earlier this week,
he's like, you know, and it speaks to his era
of football. He's like, man, i'm watching. I'm just like,
(06:56):
that's Big Ben. He's like, I'm watching Big Ben up
and that's exactly whatever of.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, to switch his hand to put it back in
his throwing hand, get it to Ladd, the move that
Ladd made to make a man miss the effort by
Zion even though he had really nothing to do with
to play. Just I think the hustle inspires you as
a team. Hassan Haskins the way he was blocking to
get two blocks in that play, And I think you
mentioned this earlier in the week. Man, you can't overstate JK.
(07:23):
Scott's ability to hold on to the snap for Cam
to do what he does hit his fifth field goal.
And you know Naim Miller hines one thousand and eight
days between his last regular season game in this one
to have a play like that to keep the Chargers
afloat still in first place in the AFC with a
big matchup that we'll get into on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, you mentioned JK and you know the field goal.
I'll just I said this a couple times because I
almost felt like I needed to apologize to the people listening.
I was like, look, it's the worst booth in the NFL.
It's it's hard to see. Probably you guys are next
next to the press We're very low, so we're the
opposite corner of you in the press box. The suite
(08:04):
is very that the broadcast with is very low and
it's deep, so you're about forty yards off of the field.
You know, in a if you were to just take
like a direct diagonal from the corner of the end
zone and split it like you were, I don't know
what you would call it, either a forty five degree angle.
That's where you are, and you're very so you can't see.
(08:25):
So I'm using binoculars to be able to watch the operation.
And when I say that it felt like a year
that that one third of one second when I saw
that ball snap through my binoculars and I watched JK
have to completely contort his body. I just immediately was like,
you're going to be carding like it just like this
is not how it's going to end. You got to
(08:46):
be kidding me. So the fact that he dug it
out and that cam didn't even break stride, Like I
know where that ball is going to be. I don't care,
you know, what it looks like because obviously you're the kicker,
you're going to catch that in your periphery. It really
wasn't oppressive and just goes back to your point of
it being, you know, collective effort. I think that's where
you know, people forget with coach Ficken what he would
(09:07):
repeatedly say last year when he would talk to the
media about how it's not just Cam, and Cam will
be the first to tell you that it's the whole operation.
It's you know, it's Josh Harris, and it's you know, JK. Scott,
and it's and it's Cam Dicker together, and I think,
you know, without Josh Harris, the best long snapper in
the league, you're seeing the value of JK not just
as a punter, but as a holder and really you know,
(09:30):
being as responsible for that win and that particular moment
is any player on the field.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
I think we both had a hunch that if the
Charges were going to win that game, you would be
calling names that you typically don't call on Sundays for
them to win it. And you know, keimani Videll listen,
I saw what Rico Daddell did the week before, and
he knew that maybe Kemani had a chance to break
a few, but he was.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
He was spectacular.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Eighteen carries, one hundred and twenty four yards, He had
that touchdown through the air, the ability to run the football,
to have somebody to rely upon, someone who was cut
from the fifty three, who stayed the course, and with
Amarian and Naji, two guys that we've talked about all
off season that we didn't expect to not have both
of them in this twenty twenty five season. For Hassan
(10:16):
to do what he typically does, but that for Kimani
to really kind of have the juice to match a
chant really with some of those splash pit plays. But
it was remarkable.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yeah, and I think for people and look, Baldy, we
love Brian Baldinger. He does a great job with his
Baldi breakdowns. And when he did his Kamani Videll Baldi breakdown,
he was pointing out to the just the fact that
Miami couldn't set an edge to save their lives, and
that's great and he's absolutely right. They couldn't, and that's
why all the action was on the edges. You know,
(10:46):
there was almost nothing between the tackles. Everything, especially even
when it was schemed up to go between the tackles.
You saw the one where Kamani bounced it on that
right side when Trey was the poller, almost like a
move tight end. He's pulling and he tries to help
open that whole and it's just not there. No one's
set in the edge. So he bounces it and it
goes for like twenty eight yards. But my point on
that is, I feel like this year compared to last year.
(11:10):
Last year, I felt like this team took advantage of
every other team's weaknesses and that's how they got those wins.
And it was the wins over team. It was the
game like they didn't lose any games they should have won.
You know, that was one of the things that led
to eleven wins last year. As you're playing a backup quarterback,
all right, win the game. You're playing the worst run
defense in the NFL. Right, let's get a run game going.
Win the game. And they were able to do that.
(11:31):
And this year I felt like kind of got away
from especially in Washington. Washington came in with one of
the worst rush defenses in the NFL and they couldn't
get it going. And so to me, it's not just
oh yeah, well they should gash this Dolphins team that's
been abysmal against the run. They've been thirty first in
the league. They're allowing one hundred and fifty per Well, yeah,
then do it, you know, make sure that even though
(11:52):
you don't have Amar and Hampton, and you don't have
Najie Harris, and you don't have your tackles, you know,
and one of your guards is maybe you know, with
an issue and Mackai Beckton that went out there and
gutted it out, just do it. And they were able to.
And a big part of that, like you said, was
Keimani himself recognizing, all right, I'm gonna bounce these that
they're they're getting after our interior a little bit. So
(12:13):
I'm just gonna bounce and run these things on the edges.
And it led to some real big gainers.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Let's shout out an unsung hero too, who he only
had four catches for twenty seven yards, but he got
a game ball. And Trey Harris Man and just his
ability to block with Quintin down, you knew he was
going to get more reps. And Justin even said it
in his presser, like Trey just wants to be out there,
doesn't matter if he's blocking, catching balls, scoring touchdowns. He
wants to find a way to be out there, and
(12:38):
he certainly helped the team.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Yeah, it's it's interesting, you know, if Q comes back
this week, if we'll see him get more snaps doing
what Keenan, you know, in the prime of his career,
was so good at doing. You know, Keenan one of
the best blocking receivers out there, and I think just
where he is currently in his career, it's a little
bit tougher for him to to you know, take I
mean he's pulling, Like I said, they're using him as
(13:02):
a fullback as a move tight end at times, and
there he's seiling Bradley Chubb and like, I just don't
know if that's really I know, Keenan is, he's all four.
He'll put his face in there, sure, but I don't
know if that's what you really want him to do.
So I'm anxious to see if Trey is now ascended
to that point where he's getting more of those eleven
personnel snaps with Q and Ladd because of how good
(13:23):
he's been on the run. And look, don't I think
because of those. I think it was nine total, if
I remember watching the play, count nine of those run
snaps that he was involved in. But I don't think
you minimize the four catches for twenty seven either. The
couple of those were fantastic and like just showed that
wiggle and some of that explosiveness and the yak because
(13:44):
it was all yak. It was all yards after catch
on Sunday. And because of those tackles and the help
they they had, there was a lot of twelve and
a lot of twenty two out there and even some
thirteen personnel because of your you know, like you said,
your fifth and six string tackles and just giving them
the help they might need. And so there was just
a lot of quick hitters and a lot of yak.
And I thought traded a great job. Those those four
(14:06):
catches might have been I don't know, eight air yards
and you're probably talking about nineteen yak yards on those
four catches, and I thought I thought he was sensational.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Yeah, Keenan had the same exact stat line four for
twenty seven, and a couple of those were on third down,
you know, automatic third and Keenan, But I really think
the lead in the wide receivers room was just I
think Lad woke up seven for one hundred. You know,
forty two came on that one, but he scored a
touchdown to the beginning of the second half, and I
just I look at the body of work that Lad
(14:37):
had his rookie year, and you know, it was a
tough game a couple of weeks ago against the Giants,
but I feel like that this may be the leaping
off point for Lad McConkey to really get back to
the form that he showed us through like a seventeen
game season last year.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Well, it's a perfect opportunity for us to flip this
forward as well for the Colts that they've had issues
in their second year. Their front is good, but look,
the Miami front is good. You know, we saw that
with Bradley Chubb and Jalen phillips on. And look at
that waffle in that sweatshirt just got some coffee. Damn
should I see that? That's a damn shame, Chris.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I'm feeling good about this shirt, you know what I think.
And you know what, guys, we're taping this in the morning,
so this is gonna be with me all day.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Feeling good about it.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Listen, you have one of those shout wipes or something.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
When you can travel as much as we do, Chris,
you know, you gotta always make sure that you're prepared.
And so here we go. Let's see if in fact
I can I can come to your rescue.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Little Adversity in week seven here, Little Adversity, And I
thought I was going to be able to, but no where.
I think I think I got something in my book bag.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I'll, uh, let's see if you're more prepared than I am.
I thought I had it, but I think I got something.
After the podcast, I'll address the just too pretty.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I like you uh, you guys don't need to see
it though, I got the laptop in front of me.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Where were we? Oh lad flipping it forward? Yes?
Speaker 3 (15:54):
The look the front in Miami great. You know the
secondary has had some issues, and I think that's what
you saw in that game as well. Like we said,
it was a lot of just quick passes and yak yards,
and so I think it'll be very similar this week
in what you're seeing with what the Colts present, specifically
on the interior with the forest buckner and just sort
(16:14):
of those quick pressures that I think you know, this
team has unfortunately had to deal with week in and
week out, and we've talked about it. You know, you
can redirect on the edges, you can give, you can
provide help to the edges. You know, I thought you men,
Ronde Gasson had a great game.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Block he did, and you know he bounced back after
the full block. I think that's the mark of a
player to you fumble in the first half, your rookie.
You're back in Miami where your dad played, where you
grew up for him to kind of shake that off.
It talked to him in the locker room after the
game to just kind of shake it off. It was
early enough in the game to have seven for sixty
eight along a twenty one. He's shown us quite a
(16:49):
bit the last few weeks that I think he's going
to be.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
A player for a while. The whole family was right
in front of our booth, so wow, really yeah. There
were probably twelve to fifteen of them, all in T
shirt and you know they had specially made T shirts
that had his number and his name, Gadsden the second
on the back. And so I bring it up to
your point, like, here's a guy that's you know, first
catch of the game, and it's a big gainer and
(17:11):
he's just trying to and look those you never want
to see a player turn it over, but those sort
of plays, it's like he saw the sticks. He's like,
all right, if I get my hand down, I can
get this first down. It's not going to be you know,
second in one, it's going to be first and ten.
And so it was just a perfect hit by the defender,
you know, as he's trying to extend for that extra
yard to pick up the first down, you lose the ball.
(17:32):
But like you said, he and I think you're going
to see it and the snap counts, how the team
feels about him, how Justin Herbert feels about him, and
for him to go back to him eight more time?
Was it seven more times? For six more games?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
He was targeted nine times.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Yeah, so you're talking about whatever, all good, and I
think that's part of it too. It's like, now that's
not a careless you're next to the sideline. Why is
the ball on your left hand, you know, or you're
right hand, depending on what sideline you're you're on, Like,
it's not one of those fumbles, it's a it's an
effort play. Let's say it's a guy trying to help
his team out. But but yeah, so I think going
back to your point about Lad, when I look at
(18:08):
the way, you know, you've got Latt, you've got Quitty
pay to Forest Buckner up front. Those guys can can
make some noise. And so if it's gonna look like
it did last week, let's hope it doesn't. But if
it does, then I think you're gonna be probably talking
about something very similar. And I think there's opportunities for
Lad to do what he does, the jitterbug stuff that
(18:28):
can lead to some of those big gainers, you know,
whipping out a routes, stopping on and cutting on a
dime and leaving dudes stuck in the turf. That that
that's probably what it's gonna have to look like.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Cardinals had the lead in the fourth quarter on the
road against against the Colts. I think they were up
either ten or eight, maybe it was ten.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
I think at one point they were up ten, maybe
not in the fourth. It was like it was back
and forth the entire second half. But to not have
Kyler Murray the game. Jacoby Brissett throws for over three
hundred yards. So again, that just kind of lies right
into your point. They were down everybody. That's the thing
about Arizona. They're on their practice squad running back. I mean,
it sounds to me if it sounds familiar, they're on
a backup course.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
The Mercato, I think, had one carrying the game because
he loved with an ankle, exactly like your fourth running.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Back Bam Knight and Michael Carter are out there carrying
the ball. Jakobea presents your perset as your quarterback. Marvin
Harrison Junior leaves in the first half of the concussion.
So that's what you're talking about. And at one point,
you know, this team, like you said, is twenty yeah,
twenty four to seventeen at the start of the fourth quarter.
So I think that just kind of speaks to Look,
(19:30):
the Colts offense is a juggernaut. It's it's as good
as any offense in the NFL right now.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
They will get into the challenges that they present, especially
with kind of the challenges the charges defense has had
the last two weeks.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Yeah, I mean, and that's and so that's you know,
talking about complete game. That's kind of why I bring
up the you know, the the lad McConkey, Like, yeah, defense,
you've got to score points. This this we started with
the red zone and the third downs, and like, this
is not a game that you're gonna win. It's probably
not a game you're gonna win twenty four to seventeen.
(20:04):
It's not a game you're gonna win twenty one to fourth.
It's this is a game where you're gonna have to
chase thirty points. Not that I don't have faith in
Jesse Minner and that crew of guys on defense, but
just how good.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
They are up front.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
You know, Bordolini at center, Quinton Nelson's playing like the
best garden football again. Raymond's turned into a heck of
a tackle. The tight ends are an issue, man, They're
a big, big issue. Tyler Warren Man and you know,
and the funny thing is is now that he it's
not funny. It's not funny at all. It's a nightmare.
He's getting so much attention now. Moiley Cox when they're
(20:40):
running two tight end sets, is wide open, Like he
is just wide open on so many of these dropbacks
for these big gainers in the scene. Josh Dowins, I
know didn't practice. We're doing this Thursday morning. Didn't practice yesterday.
I think he was he concussed or I don't remember
what happened to him. But man, he's so fast and
like that's the thing for Daniel Jones. It's the perfect play.
(21:00):
It's a great play caller. The pocket is clean, you know,
because of that offensive line in front of him.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
And that's the issue with.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Daniel Jones, right is if it gets ugly and he
gets pressured, he makes some crazy throws and does some
crazy stuff and that just hasn't happened. He's, you know,
to borrow a term from DJ. You know, are you
a truck or you a trailer? Justin Herbert's a truck, Yeah,
Daniel Jones a trailer. You know they're pulling him, but
you know, can you drive the truck effectively enough to
(21:28):
make sure you get your cargo where it needs to go?
And he's done that exceptionally this season and spreading the
ball around and turning Tyler Warren into a player that's
going to lead us to forget about brock bauer a
season last year because it's just so much different. It's
so much more impressive. Man taking handoffs out of the backfield,
jet sweeps blocking and like flattening a linebacker that's trying
(21:50):
to rush on the edge and then finding himself ten
yards downfield for a pass because the zone is vacated,
and then going for twenty more like it's you know,
I love Shane Stike is one of my favorite I'm
excited for him, But man, is he doing some really
cool stuff in Indianapolis this year.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Yeah, you mentioned Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren, you got Michael Pittman,
the Trojan coming back home. You look at the Colts
and Chargers have had three common opponents. Week one, the
Colts blew out the Dolphins thirty three to eight. They
destroyed the Raiders, destroyed them forty to six. They beat
the Broncos in the last second in Week two on
(22:28):
a fluky play on a fluky special team's play fifteen
yard penalty. So you look at the offense and just
what a juggernaut it is, and it kind of leads
us into the defense and some of the issues the
Chargers have had the last couple of weeks. Let's take
a quick break on the other side. We'll talk about
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(22:48):
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(23:11):
I go back to Washington and Bill Crosskey Merritt and
just what he was able to do. You talked about
just the inability to set the edge. We saw that
the play after the Ronde Gatsen fumble eight Chan goes
forty nine yards essentially untouched for a touchdown. And then
you mentioned maybe the leader in the clubhouse right now
for offensive player of the year, Jonathan Taylor coming to town.
(23:34):
A Dafayoway coming in I think is a good thing.
But maybe getting Denzel Perriman back is another good thing.
But this Jonathan Taylor man, you can't let him beat
you on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
No.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
And that's like the big issue that's and it's a
strange issue. I'd never thought i'd see it based on
what we saw last year, and that's just the mistackle rate.
The mistackle rate right now for the Chargers is at
a number that just it's odd, you know, because last
year they were one of the most sound tackling teams
in football. And when you look at it, it's across
(24:06):
the board, it's and it's their best players, you know,
it's it's Tuley, it's Derwin, it's Troy Dye that's out there.
And you bring up Paraman and I think, to me,
one of the bigger issues and and I know, look,
you know what I think about Jesse Minner and guys
should be a head coach. He's so darned good. But
I think what we're going to see because he's been
so good at adjusting, it's not like, you know, we've
(24:28):
talked to him and he's like, it's not my scheme,
it's what what do I have the players?
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Who?
Speaker 3 (24:31):
What do they do best? How can I put them
in the best position? To me, this team's got to
be in a heavy front. Like it's just I want
to see the three tackles and I want to see
the two edges and with Oway now added, and with
Tuley there, with Bud who's really good at setting the
edge in the run game. I just there's it seems
like a lot of those issues are creeping up when
(24:52):
it's just two guys, when it's just four upfront and
they're playing dime or they're playing nickel, And to me,
it's a little bit more of a let's Nakuon tierre
called well, whatever combination you want it to be. You know,
if it's a boyd be obviously with handout or Tito
or what like. To me, the best combo is called, well,
Nakuon and Tart. Let's get those three up front and
(25:12):
then figure out if you want it to be a
boy B and Tuley or if you want it to
be O Way and Tuley. But that to me solves
a lot of that because like Nakuon takes on double teams.
When we had him sitting here, we were talking about it,
he does it better than anyone. And then that allows
your run fits, you know, your Dan Henley's and your
Denzel paramus to start playing downhill. I feel like when
I go back and watch, there's just so many times
(25:34):
when these guards are getting up to those guys and
that's what's springing these and they're you know, the mistackles
are coming in because they're armed, they're trying to get
off of these blocks from these guards. And so to me,
it's just resetting and getting back to that and what
we saw all last year and what we saw at
the start of this season. And for whatever reason, like
what is it right now the last three they've allowed
one hundred and fifty four rushing yards per game. You know,
(25:56):
it's JK, It's Crosskey marrit Or, it's the Jackson Dark
plus Scataboo. And I think you could even go last
four because of what JK did to him as well
with those explosives. So I think it's cleaning that up,
and you got to clean it up against the Colts
because play action, that's this is a big We saw
it with Herbert. I mean, think about Herbert and play
action his rookie season. Those bombs that he was setting
(26:16):
up the Tampa Bay game comes to mind, you know,
with just play action bomb, t Billy Bomb, Jalen Guidon,
and like that's what Shane's doing with Daniel Jones is
you know, Jonathan Taylor is such a problem that those
play action passes are now really really effective and freezing
guys and having just a lot of green out there
for him to find, just wide open dudes.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
You know, Jones has wheels too. You know, we saw
Jackson darks a lot of those design runs up in
the meadowlands ten for fifty four, Jayden didn't do as
much because I think he was maybe it's still a
little hobble with that knee. But you know, mahomes in
week one, you know what, you know what, this kind
of stretch reminds me of money. The defense was so
rock solid last year, but do you remember that that
(27:00):
second half of the Tampa game that kind of spilled
into the first half of the Broncos game where it
just it didn't look like Jesse Minter's defense and they
cleaned it up. So you hope that you could kind
of maybe and again, this is a tough opponent to
do it against Jonathan Taylor, but you kind of kind
of put stop it here, stop at it ahead here
against Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones. And the thing about
(27:21):
the Colts and the Chargers guys, is that they're the
only two undefeated teams in the AFC. In terms of
AFC record, I think the Colts are either five and
oh or four to zero and the Chargers are obviously
four to oh in the AFC. So the winner of
this game is going to be the loan team with
an undefeated record against AFC opponents.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Yeah, it's Look, it's a big one. It's a playoff.
Previous playoff implications. Last week's win was big because it's
a tiebreaker. What is your record against in conference opponents
outside of division? You know, that becomes look, head to head,
then division record, then conference records. So you know, if
we think this AFC West is going to be tight
with the Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos, then you know, these
(28:00):
these are the games there losing the two to the
Giants and the Commanders were the two to lose, you know.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
And so not all wins and losses are no.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
These look, they don't count double like the AFC West
games do, but you know they are. It's part of
the tiebreaker. So it's it goes head to head in
division record and then conference records.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
So yes, that's that's the key.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
And I think, you know, with the Colts, I like,
I don't know what to what to make of them
just because of the opponents, because you know, of look,
they blew out the Raiders. They blew out the Dolphins.
They struggled against the Cardinals, which you know, it was
kind of weird, but at the same probably beat them
here at so far. Probably, Yeah, the eighty Mitchell drop
(28:42):
going into the end zone. So like they've shown you
enough to suggest, Yeah, this is one of the elite teams.
It's it's an elite offense. This is this is one
of the truly elite sides of the ball in the
NFL that everybody has had an issue slowing down. That's
I guess that's the best way I would describe them,
Like are they do they look like a jugger?
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Not?
Speaker 3 (29:01):
No, they just look like an incredible offense that you better.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
It's not the pack your lunch pail on your hard hat. No,
it's I don't know what you would call it on offense.
I'm sure the guys wouldn't appreciate a pant, I don't know,
pack your dance pants or whatever you want to talk about.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Like whatever you do, whatever puts.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Points on the boards, man, Like, that's that's what this
game is, you know, because that's whatever. They've scored thirty
forty points in these games, so you know, it's not.
It's not a punchy in the face rock fight kind
of game. It's more of a pack pants. Yeah, dude,
it's like getting start dancing out there, lance, lad because
that's that's what we're looking for, Like they're looking for touchdowns,
(29:37):
you need sevens. And also I think, you know, I
think that it's still there, Like it's because look, the
Miami offense was explosive too. Like, remember, the Miami offense
still was putting up a ton of points even though
they had these losses.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Yah, but while on ninety you get a big explosive too.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
And I think that in the same as a chan
you know. And so what do we say before that game?
Just muddy up the picture for Tua because he'll give
you some. And I think that's the same sort of idea.
And yet they still scored, you know, twenty seven points.
So it's I think it's the same thing with the Colts.
Just muddy that picture. Make Daniel Jones really uncomfortable because
he'll give you some. He had he threw a bad
(30:17):
pick last week, and unfortunately for us, it would have
been nice if the Cardinals beat the Colts. The Colts
gave it right back, but then he had another one
that went right through the hands. I don't remember who
it was, who the corner was, but I mean it
was thrown directly to him. Just didn't even see the creep,
the corner creeping. And like we saw in the mini
movie with Darwin, I told you boy, I told you
was coming. You know, you know that that Darwin's gonna
(30:38):
put these guys in the right spot to make the
right play. And and you know, Ben Saint Justus has
been playing great. He's been you know, we heard from
coach Minner when he joined us before the season about
how he did want to play more man and he's
I'd even see him, like to see him play more
man with Saint Shus. He's got the physicality, he's got
the size, but he's been mirroring routes really well and
(30:58):
so that I'm glad to see him get that, to
kind of get that reward, especially after the Washington game
kind of got away from them a little bit.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
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eight seven seven three seven three five zero six to
two to secure your ticket package today week seven. It's
never too early to look at the playoff picture. And
this is this is an idea in the AFC South
(31:50):
where like three of the teams are actually pretty good.
Like the Textans started zero three, they won their last two,
and I think that they're going to kind of creep
their way back into that AFC South race. We saw
with Jacksonville against the Chiefs kind of stuff their toe
against the Seahawks. So to have the head to head
against the Colts this early, we see the Chiefs coming on.
We knew they were gonna start coming on. The Broncos
haven't lost since coming to Sofither, you know, four and two.
(32:15):
So I just I look at the AFC in general
and like, Okay, these are the games that you have
to win in an effort to kind of put yourself
in that playoff picture. And it kind of leads me
to you know, we talked about Kimani and this isn't
really a topic for this Sunday, but maybe over the
next couple of weeks, and once you get on marian back,
it's just like the running back market. Is there a
(32:37):
running back out there that you think you can pair
amri In with and Kimani with down the stretch because
I think at this point it's it's still a little
thin right now.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
Yeah, I think it just depends on you know, I
don't know the status of a Marion and what that
ankle is.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Is it four weeks? Is it eight weeks?
Speaker 3 (32:54):
You know, they said it's at least four weeks and
maybe and not season. I think was the last answer
that we got. So to me is if that is
more toward the eight week sort of side of things,
then Yeah. As great as Kimani looked, I think you're
talking about trying to go find someone and there's Look,
there's one name that makes more sense than all others,
and it's Brize Hall.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
I said the guy in New York. Yeah, they're rowing six.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
And that they didn't pick up his fifth year or
I don't know if they did, or they didn't pick
up his fifth year option.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
I can't remember. I think they did.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
I think they So he's on a fifty year option.
He's not you know, the long term contract extension. You
know that the extension talks went nowhere. So I think
that's one where it lines up. You know, it lines
up where he can you can drop him in and
you know he's and if he's on a fifth year
option next year, then he's affordable and you've got these
(33:44):
two guys, you know that you can roll next year
as well, and it's worth giving up some capital now. Also,
I think for the Jets it's just a matter of
is he a long term because he's a heck of
a back. I don't know why you would want to
give up on him if you have him on an
affordable fifth year option.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Next year, especially if Braylan Allen out in from a
year two.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
And it's just like, but are you going anywhere? Like
what's we're seeing it in Vegas right in some of
the common commentary about Ashton genty no one's well, only
Ryan Clark, that dope is saying that he's not a
great back, but outside of him, everybody, no one's like, hey,
Ashton Genty's not great. What they're saying is is it
smart to drop the running back?
Speaker 1 (34:18):
I'd laughing because it was such a ridiculous he didn't
have the in factor in week two, I was a
rooky year.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
How many time like you.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Didn't have the it factor?
Speaker 2 (34:25):
It's just one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
I don't know how many times a guy can apologize
on a show for saying something stupid, Like, at what
point you're like, hey, let's not have this guy on
the show anymore because he keeps apologizing.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Sorry, where was I?
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (34:39):
That's the question, is like, what's the value of dropping
it back into a team that's not ready to chase
a Super Bowl?
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Ring?
Speaker 3 (34:46):
And that's why I'm Auray and have to make so
much sense for the Charger's like, yeah, drop him in, We've.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Got everything else.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
It's sorry, yeah, you know, but but yeah, I mean
anyone could see that Ashton j he's incredible. Yeah, Breece
Hall's great, and he's a he's an explosive back, But
what is his value on a Jets team that's zero
and six? Is going to be back in the quarterback
market next year and probably playing a rookie someone that
they drafted in the top five.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
So that's where to me it lines up.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
And obviously with Chad Alexander's history there, you know, it
makes sense that you can make it, just like Joe
made the deal for o Way because of all of
his time in Baltimore, and obviously Chad was in Baltimore
with him as well. But Chad's part of the staff
that drafted Breeze Hall. He's got connections with that team
to be able to line it up. I do think
that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
What other backs is Derrick Henry in a few weeks,
I don't know. They're one and five at this point,
and again that division is so bad. If Pittsburgh stubs
are to the next couple of weeks, maybe Baltimore gets
back into it, but I think maybe that's not even
to watch over they no doubt.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
I think, like to me, Hall is the one that
makes sense, just because I just like the way these
backs look attacking the edges a little bit more. Whereas Henry,
you know, you need that ramp up. He's got it,
you know, the best way to slow down Derek Henry
is to get to him before he gets to the
line of scrimmage, and it just feels like those those
A and B gap runs haven't been as productive for
the Chargers as the Edges have. You know, we're seeing
(36:13):
a lot more cracked toss than we are, just kind
of straight between the tackles, you know, even less power,
we're not seeing it. We're seeing some more outside zone.
Just things that we didn't think we would really see
this year is kind of what we're seeing.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
To play to their strengths.
Speaker 1 (36:25):
You know, so much talk about the offensive line money
and I do think all things considered, you got to
give those guys some credit. I mean, I thought Zion,
Zion's playing great. Zion's playing great. Coach hardball, he a
lot of praise on him. This week. Zion talked about
Bobby Hart's Bobby Hart was learning the playbook last week. Yeah,
you know, like you have you have deculous, you have heart.
(36:46):
Pipkins did not practice on Wednesday, Sawyer was limited. Maybe
you get Sawyer back this Sunday, but this is going
to be another game where you're down a lot of
guys across the offensive line.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
Man, I think, you know, just speaking to the trade stuff,
you know, as we kind of put a rap on
this thing, that's also something. It's it's for everybody that's
hitting us up in the comments or on my whatever,
you know, when I'm doing the Instagram stuff on the
comments there. Teams don't trade starting offensive lineman. They just
they can't do it. It's too detrimental to the health
(37:16):
of your quarterback, to the health of your team, to
the help of your offense and what you're trying to run.
You're not going to trade. It is very, very hard
to trade a starting caliber tackle or guard.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
In the middle of the season.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
So you're you're shopping, you know, for backups and for
guys that maybe you feel like are in the wrong
scheme or haven't gotten enough of an opportunity. And so
to me, that's where the whole Evan Neil conversation comes
in from. You know, Bobby Hart has not started a
game since two thousand and one. Have been four years,
(37:48):
I'm sorry, twenty twenty one. Sorry, that'd be something.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
He's a seventy year old e on.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
No since twenty sorry twenty one, yes, thank you for
the correction.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Four years, So like that's a long time.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Yeah, so to me, like Evan Neil has been inactive
every single week and I know we're grading, you know,
his his ability based on his draft status that he
was a top ten pick and just has not panned
out and has not looked good. But that's one of
those where that's that's worth it to can you go
out and make That's the sort of deal I'm talking
about that you're looking.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
For a couple more things as we get to here.
The the all Golds on Sunday, Yeah, excided uniform talking
at the end of the show is what people like.
So yeah, I'm excited for those.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
To me, it's not just the all golds, it's that
they're they're fully committed that it's going to be a
news that the field is going to be Charger Power
also going to be the nineteen sixty style alums are
going to be in the building exactly. I know, Lorenzo
said he's coming down and then everybody's going to be here.
So it's gonna be it's gonna be a really incredible atmosphere.
And it's not just wearing all golds, but it's the
(38:50):
fact that the field's.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Going to look different.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
So if you're on the border of like, uh, should
I go?
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Go? It's gonna be cool.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
The fact that these next two games, over the course
of five days, we're gonna have Superchargers and then aby,
look on Thursday, field's gonna look I'm right in that, right,
they're redoing. Yeah, okay, so the field is gonna be
totally into is gonna be connected to the uniforms these
next two it's gonna be.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
A lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
I actually even got an old school Charger Power. Hopefully
they won't get upset. They gotta win the game. So
the mini movie gets posted. But excuse my T shirt
wearing outfit because I'm gonna wear the old Charger Power
T shirt that I was gifted from somebody.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
Well on Sunday, York. Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna wear that.
Why not. It's old, it's all ripped up and goofy looking.
So let's go. Let's go.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
And just the fact that there are two games and
you know, four or five days span. Getting guys back, right,
you know, Khalil's windows open. Now. I don't know if
he's gonna return Sunday or Thursday or the next Sunday,
but just to get guys back, week by week by week.
This is the the attrition of the NFL. Man, you
have to just find ways to win, exactly what they
(39:52):
did against the Dolphins.
Speaker 3 (39:53):
Yeah, look, it's we've talked about it, right, It's it's
treading water. It's just can you get through this? We
know these guys are coming back. We know it's not
season ending for a Marion Hampton, for Khalil Mack, for
Joe Alt, like, we know that these guys are just,
as coach Charbole likes to say, working through something that
And so can you can you go five? Can you
go three and one? Can we have another three and
(40:14):
one month? You've got these two games at home. The
Vikings are going to be playing the Eagles on Sunday.
You know that they're going to get the crud kicked.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Out of them.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
And then they've got a you know, with almost no practice,
fly across country, play a Thursday game after.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Is that Corson wentz JJ McCarthy, That's.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
What I mean.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
So like they've got so and their offensive line is
the snot speed out of them as well, So that
lines up, well, can you get this one against the
Colts and post another three and one month? And figure
this thing out at six and and three and feel
pretty good. Sorry six and two, uh, and feel pretty
good about the first two quarters of the season.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
All right, you got to go to the NLCS, I do.
I gotta get this coffee state of my shirt and
I thought I had your covered and I I gotta
stop laughing, dude, I was hilarious.
Speaker 3 (40:58):
Whatever, It's good thing. Nobody likes me, so like, that's
why I don't care.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
I loves you.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
We all love that loose friends when I have no
friends in the first plight. I think I've done a
local radio show for twenty years that's incredibly successful, yet
it's never turned into anything else because everybody else hates me.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
You are the best, dude, You are the best. For money,
I'm Chris. This has been charges with me.
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