October 31, 2025 • 43 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 are joined by running back Kimani Vidal, who talks about his 117-yard game vs the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8, his breakout role on offense following injuries to teammates Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton, and the team’s preparedness to face the Tennessee Titans on the road in Week 9. Presented by Splitero.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Late fifteen to ten touchdown us.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What's up, guys, Welcome into a week nine edition of
Chargers Weekly. We are presented by split Tero, as always,
joined by the Voice of the Chargers, Matt Muddy Smith.
Keimani Via Dell will join us. What an awesome couple
of weeks he's had money.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, you know, last three weeks had it pulled up here.
I'm actually prepared for once last three fifty one carries
most or fourth most in the NFL, two hundred fifty
eight yards, six most, five point one per ninth most
yards after contact, ninth most, one hundred and fifty one
eight miss tackles, twelve first downs, that's seventh most. I
you're talking about a top eight back in the NFL.
(00:46):
Over the last three game.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Cast protection box highlight worthy blocks.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Absolutely, and that's you know, that's always been sort of
the top of the priority list for Jim Harbaugh as
you better be able to protect, you know, the most
important play on the team if you're going to be
back there. And I think that was something that Kim
Mountie had, you know, had had to learn how to
do his rookie season. And I think you know, when
you're talking about building that fifty three and who you
(01:10):
went out there. I think that was part of the process,
and to his credit, it seems like that's the one
thing he really attacked. We always knew he had explosiveness
and had great hands to catch them all the backfield,
it was sort of just the pass protection, especially when
you're a little bit more of a dominiontive back versus
a power back. And I think he's really kind of
come around, not just come around, but he's really excelled
at it. And I think that's what's led to really
(01:33):
for the most part, you know, you just see it's
it's all Kimani like there's there's really not a lot
of variation in that backfield. He's pretty much doing it
all these last few weeks.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
He's earned it.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
He's earned it, you know, with the with the offensive
line of flux, getting Joe All back on Thursday night,
and then to have k Mouni kind of stabilize the
position until Marii and gets back. I mean, it's been
a pleasant surprise. And there has been so many guys
that you know, we'll get into that that have contributed
that we didn't talk about in Week one, you know,
especially these rookies from Gadsend to Mickens. You know, yeah,
(02:03):
Trey Harris. So we talked about the Vikings game after
the game on Friday. So it's Tennessee week. You get
a short buy. How important was this mini buy for
this team?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
I think pretty big. I mean, look, you just just
think about Derwin, right, Derwin leaves the Minnesota game in
the first half, shows up in the second half in
a boot, and he's back out of practice. Now does
that mean he's going to play? I think that's a
very interesting decision for coach Harbaugh and his staff to
kind of figure out how they want to play this game.
I mean, they've already traded their two starting corners. You know,
(02:36):
the deadline is Tuesday or Wednesday. I think it's Wednesday. Yeah,
one came to LA, right, Yeah, yeah, yeah, McCreary come
to LA. And I think you're probably going to see
more guys on that team traded here. So it appears
as though, you know, with a new GM with an
interim head coach, this is a team that is cert
certainly at one and seven looking forward, and I think
(02:56):
you have to decide, Okay, we got the mini buy,
and now we've got a team that across the board,
and you never want to take an opponent lightly. They
beat the Cardinals in Arizona. I think it was yeah,
like che was in Arizona, so inexplicably it was a
wild game. They had no business winning that game. But
I think it's sort of one of those we got
the mini by and can we can we afford to
(03:18):
give during another week? And when I look at like
the signing of Marcus Williams of the practice squad and
that sort of stuff, it's sort of lining up like that.
So I think you combine the mini by with this
particular opponent and just not on their personnel, but how
they're behaving right now with her interim coach with are
we going to see Simmons? And like if I think
if you see it come out on Friday that they're out,
(03:38):
I think that'll end up being you could end up having,
you know, almost two weeks of rest for some of
these guys going into the Steelers game on Sunday, if
you want to play it that way.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, Simmons did not practice I believe on Wednesday now, right,
so we'll check his status throughout the week, you know,
Calvin Ridley didn't practice right. Is the offense for the
Titans is is certainly a work in progress with cam
Ward under center. And you know what's funny, man cam
Ward and Dayon Henley were teammates at Wasoo. At Wazoo,
Dayon led the team in tackles, and of course Kim
(04:07):
Ward did his thing at quarterbacks. So we just should
talk to day On about just his relationship with cam Ward.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
But this is a team.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Six of their seven losses have come by double digits,
so like they've been blowouts. I think the one game
that wasn't double digits was weak one against the Broncos.
So this is a team certainly a transition, and we
saw the Chargers lose to a rookie quarterback on the
road earlier this year. Though, So to your point, like
it's the NFL, you can't take any team lightly. But
if you have an opportunity to rest Durwin for Sunday
(04:34):
night football against Pittsburgh, I think you do it.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah, you know, And look, offensively, they're pretty much either
last or second to last in every single category. They
have really struggled. I mean literally thirty second or thirty
first in yards yards per play passing, rushing, time up possession,
like all of those are either thirty two or thirty one.
(04:58):
And so if you feel confident in what you saw
from RJ. Mickens and Elijah Molden, and you know if
Kenda Williamson, who we saw in the preseason was very
versatile and moved around from all those spots, like if
you can do that, and look, Durwin's going to fight
to play. We know that, sure, But to me, it's
just and if he's good, he's just like, what's your
percentage meter? You know? If we got the Steelers coming in,
(05:21):
they run a ton of twelve and twenty two and
they got you know, freaking Washington out there, who's two
hundred and eighty pounds. Who's going to be on the
side of that line? If Drwin's lining up, they is
sort of like that slot defender that's attack like, he's
going to have to deal with a lot of physicality.
I think in that Pittsburgh game that we're I think
that's where this conversation comes in. And again, I'm sure
coach would punch me in the throat if you heard
(05:42):
us talking like this, because you know, you never want
to say, oh, we're looking to the Steelers. But I
think that's that sort of we're ret and I think
a lot of that could depend on what happens between now.
On Sunday. You could see Tony Pollard get moved. I
think I would. I would suspect he'll probably get moved
before the deadline. You might see Kevin Zeidler get moved.
You know, signed a one year deal. Who's you know
late in his career, who's used to playing was on
(06:04):
Detroit last year, was playing for the Ravens for all
those years. Like I think, if you see those sort
of signals, it could condition what the Chargers opt to
do with a lot of these guys that could really
benefit from maybe another week of rest.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Now one guy we won't see his tar heeb still. Yeah,
that's a bummer, which is a bummer. But again, if
if this is the stretch that he has to miss,
I guess it's probably the best stretch to miss, given
what the November December look like. But to see maybe
Nico Reid step up and finally get activated. We saw
the plays that he made throughout the course of training
camp in preseason, that Hall of Fame game in particular,
(06:41):
and just to line in with guys like Mickens and
Trey Harrison, Gats and these young rookies.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Maybe Nico Reid maybe it's a good.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Spot for him. Fatally, Yeah, it could be. It'll be again.
That's one also that I think it'll be interesting to
see how they play it. Is Nico read More of
a developmental player that they're afraid would get plucked off
the practice squad, so they're just keeping him, you know,
on the active roster, and he's in active every single
week and they're looking toward twenty twenty six. Or you
see someone that is a depth piece that you trusted
to throw out there on a Sunday because you know
(07:11):
they can put John the slot and just have Cam
and Dante on the outside and essentially take all those
slot snaps from Tarheeve and you're not rotating that particular
player to the outside. Maybe it's Dean Leonard. You know,
his windows is open, and that's going to be a
huge boost for special teams. They desperately needed him out there,
so that's going to be a big win for Ryan
Ficken and his lot. But like I remember, two preseasons ago,
(07:32):
we were like, oh man, Dean Leonard's taking the jump.
You know, he looked great, and so I think that's
a possibility where, like you said, if it lines upright
where you have either an opportunity for Nico to get
his feet wet against the thirty second ranked pass defense
and a team that's you know, doesn't have you know,
Calvin Ridley out there, I mean nothing against ella reck
(07:56):
andemo ala manor ala manor ala manor there we go,
you salamander, Yeah, exactly, Alamanner and those guys out there
at receiver where it could be a perfect spot to
get his feet wet.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
You know this this stretch, if you look at what's
happening with Tennessee, then Sunday Night footballgainst the Steelers, then
Jacksonville a bye in the Raiders. I think we kind
of ended the podcast last week talking about, like you
break the season up in quarters, like this is a
crucial quarter for the Chargers to stack wins, stack wins
in the AFC and then get ready for this November
(08:32):
December stretch where you have tougher opponents on paper.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, and you get healthy. Yeah, Like that's the key
is you know it could The way the schedule laid
out really couldn't have been better for what they're dealing with,
you know where, like you said, you have your mini
by after the Thursday, you know, Whilela Marian's out, while
you were dealing with Joe Alt. You know, you had
all these home games, and obviously they didn't win all
the home games that we would have liked to see.
You know, they end up dropping three or four, but
(08:55):
I think that's still in front of them. You do
have the Sunday night or at home. The Steelers are
dealing with some attrition and have not played really good
football despite spending a ton of money on their defense,
and it is not performed up to the level that
they're paying it. And then, like you said, you get
the Raiders, you get a buy and then I think, slowly,
gradually you get all these guys that are coming back.
(09:16):
I mean, look, we already talked about it the day after,
but like the return of Jolt, we said it then
and I'll say it again, it can't be overstated. Like
you see the impact that he has, and I thinks
as great as Kimani has been the idea of getting
a Mari and Hampton back behind, you know what now
is a quarterback who leads the league in passing, Who's
(09:39):
second in the league in completions, Who's second in the
league in touchdown passes? Like that's that's it's not just
complimentary football offense, defense, special teams. It's complementary offense. Like, Okay,
now Herbert's running the ball a lot like Herbert in
the last what three games, has got fourteen carries for
ninety five yards, averaging seven her Like, all of that's
(10:01):
going to come into play. And when I think about
the explosiveness that we saw from Amari and Hampton before
he went down and where he I mean, he was
one of the top backs in the league. He was humming,
you know, Like the idea that that's going to be
coming back is incredibly exciting.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
And I think with with Kimani, you know, we talked
a couple of weeks ago about Okay, you're gonna look
for a running back on the open market. I think
Kimani has shown that he could be the RB two
on this team. He can compliment Amarion nicely. We you know,
we we were expecting Nase and Amarian to kind of
trade and fourth quarter kind of wear teams down. I
(10:37):
think Kimani has proven that he can be that kind
of one. A to Marion when a Marion does come back.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Yeah, I think the one I still envision them. I'm
sure Joe's making calls. Hortiz is making calls on backs
just because you know, right now you think like a
bigger back, Well, I just think you have Jared Patterson
kamani By Dell right now. That's those are your two
healthy running backs on this team.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
So at Haskins her too, we should.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Make That's what I mean. Like, the idea to me
is running backs typically come very cheap at the trade deadline.
It's not up up. It's not a position where you're
paying a huge premium even when they're really good. When
you see backs move, it's usually for a Day three pick.
So to me, if there is a Tony Pollard, a
Bressee Hall, you know those sort of things, I would
(11:21):
assume they're going to go out and grab that just
to protect themselves. I mean, it's Tennessee right now, but
in a week, a week from Sunday, we're gonna be
talking about I Smith her big Watt, like you know
that defense is, you know, and then think about the
Philly defense that's coming down the Pike. You know, like
there are the Chiefs that you still have to play,
the Broncos that you still have to play. To me,
(11:42):
it's almost it's almost a preventative measure. You know, they
don't want We know how much they love their draft picks,
and we know what they've been able to do with
seventh rounder Mickens, fifth rounder Tarheb cam and Iron Deez guess,
and they love their picks. But I do think there's
also something to be said that and look, it'll also
tell us what's going on with these injuries. You know,
(12:03):
they're very protective of their injury designations and who's what
how far along they are, So to me, it tells
you that maybe Amaran is a little further away from
coming back if they do go out and get someone.
And I think that's sort of the beauty of the
trade deadline and being pushed back a little bit, where
you have these teams that are like, Okay, we're Tennessee,
(12:24):
what are we going to do with Tony Pollard? He
still got one more year on his deal. Where are
we at as a team, and you know, or we
fine with Taj and you can find backs late in
the draft and things like, like to me, those those
are the sort of things you can go take advantage of.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
You know, Buddy, I think a game like Tennessee on Sunday.
Clearly they've been overmatched in most of their matchups. But
I think for the Chargers, like we saw a very
different team against Indianapolis than we saw when they played
the Minnesota Viking. So I think this is a good
test to kind of see where where they are, you
know against Tennessee, Like, do they do they blow Tennessee out?
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Does it get more competitive than it needs to be?
Speaker 2 (12:58):
And I think you can kind of see kind of
where they are as a team over the next couple
of weeks and then maybe make some decisions as to
who you need to bring in and just kind of
where they are right now, because I do think it's
we just saw two different games, and I get it.
The Colts, I think are much more far along and
they're humming right now on offense. But you want to
(13:19):
see what's real, right and I think maybe Tennessee is
your first opportunity to kind of see it.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Yeah, I kinda. I'll make the baseball analogy for the pitcher.
You know, it's like, Okay, he's thrown eighty five pitches,
we're through, or he's thrown ninety five pitches, or in
the sixth inning? Do I want to send him out
for the seventh? Okay? Well what kind of pitches were they?
How stressful were the innings? Like? To me, it's it
was nice to have that Vikings game, to have a
second half where there's not a lot of stress, where
(13:45):
you can rotate more guys through, where Herbert can just
hand the ball off and he doesn't have to take
unneeded shots because you got to go win a game.
I think that's sort of what you're speaking to right, is, Hey,
here's an opportunity for you to maybe not have to
put Trey Pipkins back in or or And look, I
think Bobby Hart might have won that job, you know,
the way that the coaches are talking about him when
(14:05):
you look at when you go back and watch he's
played really well.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
How about that story, man, I think it's incredible he
hadn't started a game in what twenty twenty one.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Not two thousand and one. Like I said, I'm the prior,
that would be something it would be.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
But I mean that's remarkable.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
I mean those are the types of stories that you
just you don't envision coming into a season, who knew
Bobby Heart was going to be on the team yet
alone maybe win the starting right tackle position.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah, and I think and you know, in the case
of Trey who played some guard last year and Sawyer
who hasn't been healthy, Like, is that another position because
you can maybe go out and find a guard, you know,
with with Beckton having played what do I I have
it at here? Beckton has played fifty eight percent of
the snaps, Like, you've got to protect yourself.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
He didn't practice Wednesday either.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, So to me, that's like another position where you know,
we brought up Kevin Zeidler, right, somebody that we thought
the Chargers might end up being.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
You think it would be more of a veteran because
you know, we we spoke about a month ago saying,
you know, you typically don't want to give up an
offensive line.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Very hard to get during the trade deadline, but maybe
there's a there's.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
A vemi he was not a one year deal. He's
thirty something years old. You know, he's he's he's in
his fourteenth season, so figure he's probably thirty five years old.
It's like he went from Baltimore to Detroit. You think
about where those two teams were last, you know, in
the last five years, and it's like, Hey, if you're
Kevin Seidler, do you go to the front office and say, look, man,
(15:26):
I signed here, I'm fine here, But man, if this
is my last go around or my second to last
go around, it sure would be nice to be playing
meaningful football in November and October instead of getting like,
I think that's what people I think that's what fans
maybe lose sight of is when you're talking about the trenches,
when you were talking about playing guard in the NFL,
(15:47):
these guys are getting there freaking heads caved in sixty
five times or you know, between forty and sixty times
a game. And if you're thirty five, you're married and
you've got a couple of kids, and this is the
last girl, Like, do I want to do that for
a while? One in seventeen that's thirty second in offense
and has an interim head coach, and like, is that
what I really want to do for the next ten weeks?
(16:08):
And so I think that's where those conversations go. Like
just to like, when you say a veteran, I think
That's where that comes in. If you're a Wyatt teller,
if you're you know, if you're Kevin Zeidler, do you
go to the front off and say, hey, man, can
you come on? Can you do me a solid here?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Which is why I didn't understand why Tyler Lockett got
released and then went to the Raiders.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Right, Like, if you're Tyler Lockett, are you trying to
go to a contender, because it seems like you just
went to like a similar situation.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
And now I understand that way, and that.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Could just maybe speak to you know, Pete helping him out,
you know, as a former coach, as opposed to any
other team that was really interested in him, you know,
because he sat out there for a while, and you
know that he's he's an explosive receiver, you know, so,
and look, receiver is a tough position, man, it is
if you just historically historically, you know, if you look
(16:55):
at it historically, once you hit thirty, it is a
precipitous drop for nearly all of these guys because it
relies so much on explosiveness, and Tyler Lockett's most important
attribute was his explosiveness.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
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(17:29):
estimate at splittero dot com. Slash Chargers. The NFC East
didn't do the Chargers any favors this weekend. Denver destroy
the Cowboys, Kansas City destroyed the Commanders, especially in that
second half. You look at the AFC race right now,
and you know, I look at a team like Jacksonville,
who you play in a couple of weeks, that's gonna
(17:49):
be you know, wildcard implications, Pittsburgh wildcard implications because I'm
not convinced they win the division. Now, I think Baltimore's coming.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
It's pretty wild start their favorite. Yeah, that's how crazy
that is that they are favored to win the division
with two wins.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
No doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
So, like you know, the Titans is an AFC game,
but you have Pittsburgh and Jacksonville back to back the Chiefs,
Like we could already start talking about this stuff because
of matters, like they play the Bills on Sunday, the
Broncos play the Texans, so like the Texas is trying
to get themselves back into it. So this is where
things get really really tight. And for being five and three,
(18:22):
those first three games of the season loom large right now.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
I think, just speaking to this week, you know, one
of the things that this team was so good at
last year was they won every single game they were
supposed to win. And this year, I think you could
say it hasn't quite gone like that. You know what,
specifically when I think about New York and how that
New York team played versus how the Chargers played and
(18:45):
the idea that you gave him two opera, you gave
them ten points, you know, on turnovers inside the five
yard line with a goal to go situation on two
interceptions and you end up losing twenty one to eighteen.
Like that just didn't happen last year. And that's like
such a big game that looms low and that's where
you have to now start circling. Okay, is it going
to be the Eagles, the Steelers. The textit like these
(19:06):
teams that were playoff teams last year that you got
to go out and get it one, if not two
of those wins. You know, so this week it's one
of those, Hey, this was your identity last year. That's
how you got to eleven wins. Is whatever backup quarterbacks.
Teams that are in the bottom five of whatever category, defense, offense, both,
they won all those games. And so to me back
(19:27):
to your point about the Vikings game following the Colts game, Look,
they delivered on what they promised during the week during
all their pressers that they were sick to their stomachs
that they couldn't believe what they put out there the
last few weeks, and they were going to make it
right and you were going to see it on Thursday night.
And we did. I mean, we saw a dominant defense
that reminded us of the twenty twenty four defense. We
(19:49):
saw a balanced offense, and we saw a team for
the first time since week I think it was Week seventeen, Yeah,
it was Week seventeen in New England put their foot
on a T team's throat and leave it there. You know.
When they knocked off New England last year forty to three.
This is what that's what that Minnesota game felt like.
And I hope that's what we see in Tennessee because
(20:10):
then you kind of craft this narrative and they can
say they don't hear anything in the media, but then
you have people nationally talking about, Okay, they're getting healthy
Joe Altz back. Herbert's playing the best quarterback of anybody
in the league right now, you know, And that's what
you can get going into that national all eyes on
you one game in the time slot contest against the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Oh yeah, Offensively obviously, we talked about this last week.
A Rondy Gatzid. They've unlocked something with him at the
tight end position to have him in a pass catching
arsenal with lad Who's come on since that Miami game.
You know, Keenan didn't play as much but was very
effective when he did play. Quentin was not targeted, but Quentin,
(20:51):
we saw what he did the first four weeks of
the year. How would you assess the weapons that Justin
has right now and just kind.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Of how the offense has he evolved money from the
beginning of the year to where they are to currently.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Yeah, I think I think it's what we said, you
know when but when we were going into the draft
and we talked about what a deep tight end class
it was, and we said, you know, could you see
you know, if Trey Warren slides, if Colston Lovelin slides,
you know, that's just a slam dunk pick at twenty one,
Like if he's that's what every mock draft had if
(21:23):
they lasted, they didn't. And then in the second round
we're talking about Mason Taylor and Harold Fannin and Ferguson.
Like so we knew, we like I shouldn't say it
that way, everybody knew how much Herbert likes throwing to
a pass catching tight end. I mean we've seen it.
We've seen him elevate the game of guys that came
in on their one year deals year after year after year.
And so to to to get a Rondez and to
(21:47):
have that staff our front office here with the Chargers
kind of envision what this became is incredible. You know,
I don't know what number tight end he was taking,
it's double digits, but he he's playing better than Tyler
Warren right now over the last two three weeks. So
like that's how good.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
And like the guy Cole said Lovelin that we talked about,
I mean, it's like it's it's not even a conversation.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Yeah, I mean, And Tyler Warren's the best tight end
in the league right now as a rookie. And and
like I think we talked about this going into the
Colts game, he's playing better than brock Bauer's played last year.
Like that's and that was the greatest rookie tight end
season we've ever seen, one of the greatest tight end
seasons we've ever seen. And that's how good he's been.
So to me, that's just going to continue. Herbert loves
(22:33):
throwing to those guys in that part of the field,
and he looks like someone that is going to be
a real issue to stop because how many resources can
you commit to him when you've got Lad McConkey out there,
when you've got Quinton Johnston out there. And like again
we say it, Quinton didn't get targeted. You know, if
they wanted to take him away, Okay, take him away.
We're good with Ladd and Trey Harris and Rondez and Kimani.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
We're good.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
So it's funny Jim said that they doubled the Rondez
on Ladd's touchdown, though, it's like given him the ultimate
respect as a rookie.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
And now you're getting burned yea. And so that's what's great,
right again, that's the complimentary part of playing offense is
now you've got this tight end threat that when you
go into a game. I don't think it's any different
than going into a game with the Colts and it's
Tyler Warrent going into a game with the Raiders, and
it's Brock Bowers going into a game with the Chiefs,
and it's Travis Kelce. I think after three weeks, I
don't know how you could argue it like that's what
(23:23):
you're talking about with Rondez guest and hey man, this
guy is killing teams. We have got to figure out
how to slow him down. And that's how Lad gets
one hundred yard game with a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, this game, it's very straightforward, right, You're playing a
team that you should be you should beat up on
the road and get to six and three. Is there
anything else that we should be looking out for in
this matchup that you think Finnish should we should watch
on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
To me, Like, the number one thing is Jeffrey Simmons
is going to play because if he plays along with
Devandre Sweat, you can wreck a game.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
He is you know he wasn't Jeffrey Simmons first game
against the Chargers, yes, twenty nineteen.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
And he wrecked them. Yeah, completely wrecked them. Yeah. That
was the Melvin Gordon seven hundred football fumbled. It was.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
It was Ryan Tannehills first start, yes, and then.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
They went to the play they pulled Mariota put in
TenneT right, I think it was. Yeah, they pulled Mariota
put in ten. Is that what it was?
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I think both teams were like four and five at
that point, and then the Chargers went this way the Titan.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
And they went that way. Yeah. That was. That was
that game. So here I am. Let's see receiving stats.
I want to see what we got yards over the
last three weeks. Gadsden is the leader in receiving yards
by nearly a hundred, three hundred and Grandity at one
hundred and sixty eight yard but three twenty eight. Next
(24:36):
in line is Craft at three forty four, then Kelsey,
then Warren and in receptions the last three weeks he's
first tied with Kyle Pitts in touchdowns, He's second to
McBride and Dallas Goddard. In first downs, he's second to
Travis Kelcey, who at twelve Gadsden has eleven. Like, that's
(24:57):
how dominant he's been. And so that changes the calculus
of all these defenses of hey man, this is our
primary focus. He's the most effective of anybody catching passes
right now on that team. So but back to your point,
I'm sorry I was pulling that up. I was waiting
for it to come up.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
To me.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
That's like, the one issue is the interior with with
backed In in his issues and with trying to figure
out who's gonna who you're going to put in there.
Simmons into Andre Sweat can get those quick pressures that can,
you know, maybe put a hurt on Herbert, and that's
not what you want to see in a game like this.
You do not want him getting hit a bunch of times.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
No, So well, we'll get to Kimanti Viadell.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Buddy a great conversation with a guy who a six
round pick last year, and we saw the flashes he
had the pedigree coming out of Troy, but to see
what he's done.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
The last three weeks been pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Indeed, you know he's one of our favorites. Great dude,
as big a part of this surge here these two
of these last three weeks with these wins as any player,
because you've been able to balance out the offense.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
All right, here's number thirty.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
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six to two to secure your ticket package today, all right,
as promised, Running back Combody Videll joins us on Chargers
(26:45):
Weekly and Cybody, I don't know if we just start
the last three weeks. What have the last three weeks
been like for you to know that you had to
step up at a role when you're thriving in it.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
It's just it's felt good, honestly, you know, just being
able to step but for my teammates and contribute to
the team, and you know, to play good felt good.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
I'm gonna start earlier than that. I'm gonna go back
two years. You're drafted. We're talking on the podcast, and
I don't know if we've had this conversation before. I
had it with your dad. We were talking about it
over the sideline. I took so much incoming for pronouncing
your name correctly. I specifically went into Detroy game notes.
I went back and listened to broadcasts of your games
(27:26):
to make sure is it Videll? Is it hilarious? And
so we finally I settlized, like, all right, it's Kimani Videll.
That's what it is. And man as he would tell you,
it's three weeks of taking incoming from the people like
that's that. There's no way vi id Al is not
pronounced by Dell. How often? Here's my question. I'm the
circuitout path to get to my question. How often do
(27:47):
people pronounce your name correctly? How often do you feel
like you have to correct them. Do you care? And
can you for once on the record just kind of
give it to us how you want us to pronounce
it during the games?
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Is I'm most people say it all. I like, I don't.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
I mean, I don't put a lot into it just
because like I know, like that's how it's spelled, so
like I don't. But honestly, Kimani is probably the one
that people mess up most. But I mean instead yeah, yeah,
Cumani instead of Kimani.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Have you heard the Spanish radio guys say money videl
for men?
Speaker 4 (28:26):
Yeah, yeah, I have. That was that was pretty cool.
What was that the Denver game last year?
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (28:32):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was that was pretty cool. Yeah,
that was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Adrian's like the king of nicknames. He nailed it right
from the beginning.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
You know, It's one thing to do what you did
in Miami, but to have that type of performance on
Thursday night football where you're like you're on the post
game show, you're signing the footballs.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
What was that like for you?
Speaker 4 (28:51):
It was cool?
Speaker 5 (28:52):
I mean it was like, uh almost like a dream almost,
you know, I dream of those days and uh, you know,
I'm just happy and bless to you know, be in
that space.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
You get more reps because of past protection. I mean,
we know how important that is. Here to coach Mac
and to coach Bischoff and coach Row kind of walk
us through last year versus this year and sort of
what you were doing to kind of work your way
up to that spot and what goes into it, Like
what are the challenges of becoming a good pass protection back.
Speaker 5 (29:21):
It's a lot of challenges, honestly, and especially in the NFL.
You know, you have so many different exotic looks. I mean,
the Vikings they had an exotic stuff last week, and
just I think like it's just a time on task
kind of a thing, just you know, just building it
through the reps and being able to just go accustomed
to it and you know, seeing it multiple times, you know,
(29:44):
it takes the time to just kind of get like
used to that and just the speed of it. And
then obviously you know we have a great quarterback. You know,
they're trying to you know, fluster him and get get
to him. So yeah, I mean I've just I just
built through repetition and you know, just watching.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Film, how much of it is seeing it and like
just you know, it's if you can put it into
words for people that are watching and listening, because you
hear that make it sound like it's so easy, But
I would assume it's identifying. Is it pre snap identification?
Is it you know? Is it stunts? Like what is
it that's happening out there that that makes it a
challenge that reps and time on tasks kind of help.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
With really and truly, like there's sometimes like in a
play where you'll they'll have like a certain amount of
guys up on the line, and there's an instance where
you can have like three different guys and you just
have to be really good with your eyes, with your feet,
and then obviously like they're dropping at the snap, so
(30:44):
it's happening fast and they're they're on the line of scrimmage,
so you know you're meeting them really halfway in the backfield,
so uh, just you know, just and then also like
you could just tell by like body language to just
picking up on the on film.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
So really and truly, like it's.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
It's very difficult, but you know, just growing accustomed to
it and just the time on task has just really
helped me.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
You know.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Keimodi, we come into this year, and you know Amarian
and Najiar here and.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Just the durability of those guys throughout the course of.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Their career to have both of them go down in
such a short period of time. And we talked about
this a couple of weeks ago, just the ability to
take advantage of your opportunity. I know you spoke to
me about it a couple of weeks ago, but I
don't know if you could just kind of illustrate just
what it takes we don't make the fifty three to
(31:42):
stay present at all times and then be prepared and
fully engaged to take advantage of that opportunity.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Yeah, I mean, I just try to use that time
when I was in a practice squad to the best
of my ability, just to you know, get better during
that time.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
You know, just.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
You know you're not playing in the game, so use
that to your advantage. You know, you could train harder,
you know, watch more film. You know, you're not putting
as much like in your body wise to get prepared
for the game. So you know, I was kind of
able to just like almost like a mini off season,
you know, to kind of get prepared take us through.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
I think you got shoved out left sideline too. Maybe
one almost got into the end zone. It looked like,
you know, Tucker's running in motion flips, looks like it's
a counter and you're supposed to maybe follow him and
you know, maybe into a big gap ORCI is that right?
And then so you end up bouncing it. And I
can see on film when you watch back Tuckers almost
like where do you go? Yeah, kind of take us
through that play, what you saw, how often that happens,
(32:46):
and and sort of kind of what the conversation is
after that, because it was kind of funny. Everybody just
sort of followed and you just took this opportunity that
looked like it presented itself.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
Yeah, I mean they it was like it was supposed to.
I mean, you're right, it was to go back, but
they lost the edge on the left side.
Speaker 4 (33:03):
So I just ran.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
I really should have scored on that play. I'm honestly
kind of mad about that.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
But well, how so, but you think you should have
watched just truck the dude.
Speaker 4 (33:12):
I mean it was it was me one on one
with the corner.
Speaker 5 (33:16):
You know, I should have I should have did something else,
But I mean it is what it is.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
It's a learning experience.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
So I mean you got nine yards out of it.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Yeah, you follow the way it was scripted, you may
get one.
Speaker 5 (33:27):
So you can't get to Yeah, no, no, no, definitely not,
definitely not, but but yeah, I mean I just trusted
my eyes, trusting my feet, and it was just like
my body just went there and I just it's just
so happened to work out.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
You might have.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
The one thing I noticed throughout the course that game
is you got better as the game went on, Like
some of those really tough runts came third and fourth
quarter of that game.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Is that the type of backyard you feel like you
need to get the carries to, like to just kind
of feel it and get into the mode where you're
just you're at your best, like at the end of
the game.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:58):
I mean obviously, like there's nothing like you know, getting
the ball throughout the whole entire game and just like
almost like snowballing. But I mean, I just I try
to give it everything. I have, every every opportunity, every carry,
every reception. But I mean, yeah, I mean those guys
(34:19):
got worn down, you know, throughout the entire game, so just.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
Take their will in the fourth quarter Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
Especially in Miami, the edges were really working. Just kind
of take us through the run game, you know what,
Like I said, coach Bischoff and McDonald and coach Row
are doing and and sort of I don't want to
say it like it's it's working between attacks, but really
looks like you're thriving on the edges. Kind of what's
what do you feel is working? And why might that
be the case?
Speaker 5 (34:48):
I mean, it just so happens that that's just been
the game plan in the past couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
I mean I definitely hit.
Speaker 5 (34:55):
I think I kind of hit a little bit more
like on the inside against the Vikings, But it was
just a game plan. We're just trying to execute it.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Is there one you like better than the other? Is
there what I should say? Let's even if you put out,
you know, edges inside you know kind of it's been
sort of strange like this was a gap power team.
It just feels like concepts are shifting week to week.
Is there? Is that? Is that kind of accurate? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (35:22):
I mean we're we'll do anything that it takes to
win the game. I mean that's that's even running the ball,
more passing, the ball more, whether we feel like gives
us an advantage in the game is what we're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
You take us through the just the four days between
Colts and Vikings, and just the importance to leave so
far Thursday night with a win, to get that mini
by and to get a little bit of rest. But
I have to imagine there was a little bit of
I don't I guess urgency is probably the best word
for it. To get that bad taste out of your
(35:55):
mouth from Indy.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
Yeah, definitely. I mean you kind of look I had
any kind of like, man.
Speaker 5 (36:00):
We're kind of glad almost to have the shorter week
because it kind of you have to move on, you know.
So you know that's what we did, and you're just
trying to improve our bodies before that short week.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
How big of a deal is the mini buy? I know,
I was looking it up. I think you've got fourth
most carrias the last three weeks. Uh fifty, I think
it's fifty one. Sounds about right. Does it help a lot?
Just those three days of having from Thursday off, I
know you're out there yet until Sunday. Does it feel
like a bigger deal?
Speaker 4 (36:32):
Yeah? I mean.
Speaker 5 (36:34):
My body feels good. You know, it's just trying to
get better. It's a long season, so we got a long, longer,
much longer way to go, but just trying to improve
every Weekbuddy.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
How would you assist with this team is now, you
know five and three, a lot of adversity with injuries
and guys stepping up in what ways do you think
you know, those injuries in some of the guys who
are getting their first opportunity, how's that going to help
this team to the back half of the season.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
I would say it just it just builds depth, you know,
having guys to come in and you know eventually when
those other guys start coming back, it just it gives
those guys some confidence, especially like later on the season
when you know sometimes when when guys aren't feeling too
good that you know you can have a good you know,
(37:30):
a good two to come in and put in some
good work.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Special teams. Just kind of how important that is. And
it's such a different looking group this year than it
was last year. Obviously, you know, the dynamic kickoff is
kind of all you've been part of since you've been
in the NFL. But maybe share with us the challenges
of the dynamic kickoff and just kind of you know
what coach Vicken does with that unit. And it's such
a diverse group. Do you feel like we've kind of
figured out what the right personnel is yet for it?
(37:56):
Is it speed? Is it power? Is it a mixture?
You know what I mean? Is it corners? Is it
running backs? Is it d ns? Like what do you
guys kind of all talking about when it comes to
trying to find that perfect mix for each of those units.
Speaker 5 (38:07):
I think it's I mean, we again, like we change
it week to week. Some teams do more speed, some
teams do more power. Some teams you know, try to
use the like the kicker almost like as an asset
with the you know, like kicking knuckleballs down the field
and springing around the field.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
And I mean it's just I mean, it's week to week. Honestly,
it's a week to week league.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Yeah, is it tough? Like is it because it looks
you know, it just looks so different than what we're
used to.
Speaker 5 (38:42):
Yeah, it almost feels like a like a drill you
would do and fall camp almost and especially like I remember,
like at the beginning of last year, a lot of
guys would like start to move when like the kicker
would kick the ball, and like it was just kind
of like an adjustment. But I mean them putting the
ball the forty now instead of the thirty five is
(39:02):
obviously has made more returns.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
We said it at the end of the Vikings game
when he booted out of it back the NS for like, oh,
kick offf covers feeling real good right now? Yeah, I
appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
A lot of kicks this year you've entered you've entitored
fantasy football model, Like the last couple of weeks, what
are the dms looking like?
Speaker 3 (39:24):
What are the the chirping from the from the stands
looking like?
Speaker 5 (39:28):
The dams are absolutely crazy? Yeah, it's it's insane. Oh
give me twenty points. I appreciate you, man, you want
my fantasy this week? Like it's it's all bunch of
stuff like that, But I mean it's a it's been
pretty cool to have to have that kind of you know,
reaction to it. And uh, I mean yeah, I just
want to keep proving, keep showing, uh why people should
(39:51):
have me on their fantasy team.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
It's what I mean, this is this is why you
do it, man, Like when you were drafted, I have
to imagine, like you knew that you were capable of
of this, but to get the opportunity. How much of
the NFL is just being able to seize the opportunity
when it's given to you, because sometimes people don't get
the opportunity.
Speaker 4 (40:12):
Yeah, I mean, you're right.
Speaker 5 (40:13):
Sometimes guys just you know, don't get the opportunity, or
you know, injury happens, or you know, unfortunate situations happen.
I mean, it's it's unfortunate, it's you know, it just
shows you that luck is part of the game. But yeah,
you just gotta take more, just take advantage of your opportunities.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
Yeah, what we got in Tennessee. You have some big
freaking dudes in the middle of that line. I don't
know if they're all gonna play, But I mean between sweat,
I don't know what he's clocking it at. I don't
believe what it's listed. It looks like three seventy five
around there. But with he and Simmons and just kind
of what you've seen so far and what you're going
up against on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (40:52):
Yeah, I mean, they have a lot of masks in
their in their front seven. You know, I don't want
to give too much away, but like you know, we're
trying to figure out how to you know, attack just
their defense, and it's exposing really.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
When you've got like ten guys on the team that
played there, so of all the teams you'll face, you've
got the probably the best intel of any opponent, right.
Speaker 4 (41:19):
Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
Yeah, winning on the road, Like I just I go
back to the beginning of the season, from Brazil to
Vegas to New York to Miami, because have been like
I don't know how manybody else at this point, but
just to get up to winning on the road.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
What does a road wind do for a team?
Speaker 5 (41:43):
It's just momentum. I mean it's not easy playing on
the road. I don't think any anybody really knows what
it's actually liked, you know, just to you know, get
on the flights and you know, do all this and
lay on the flight for four or five hours after
a after a a whole football game. I mean Brazil
(42:03):
was I mean that was crazy. Yeah, fourteen hours after again.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
You'll never have that again.
Speaker 5 (42:08):
Yeah, you wake up, you go to sleep after the
game on the flight, you wake up, you're still on
the flight for another four hours.
Speaker 4 (42:15):
It's just it's insane, but I mean it is what
it is.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
You know, Chris was just doing the math. He's like,
you got to sleep for ten hours. I'm like editing AUF.
I mentioned last one for me, Kimani, I mentioned I
ran into your dad, had a great conversation with him
in Atlanta. How often does family get to see you
in games on the road? Is Nashville one of those games?
Speaker 5 (42:38):
Nashville is one of those games, Miami was one of
those games. Probably Jacksonville is gonna be one of those games.
Anytime we code to the East coast, you know, we
have a good chance of meeting up. And then I
mean even I mean there's some games in the middle there,
like Denver.
Speaker 4 (42:55):
Is like Kansas City, Kansas City, Dallas.
Speaker 5 (43:00):
But uh, you know it's it's it's great to go
back and be able to see my family.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (43:05):
Man.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
Well, hey, we're so happy for your success. Keep it
rolling and we look forward to seeing Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (43:09):
Sir.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Thank you, Thank you, Keimani Keimani by Dell exactly all right.
Speaker 3 (43:13):
For Kimani and Buddy, I'm press has been charged for
before
Late fifteen to ten touchdown us.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What's up, guys, Welcome into a week nine edition of
Chargers Weekly. We are presented by split Tero, as always,
joined by the Voice of the Chargers, Matt Muddy Smith.
Keimani Via Dell will join us. What an awesome couple
of weeks he's had money.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, you know, last three weeks had it pulled up here.
I'm actually prepared for once last three fifty one carries
most or fourth most in the NFL, two hundred fifty
eight yards, six most, five point one per ninth most
yards after contact, ninth most, one hundred and fifty one
eight miss tackles, twelve first downs, that's seventh most. I
you're talking about a top eight back in the NFL.
(00:46):
Over the last three game.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Cast protection box highlight worthy blocks.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Absolutely, and that's you know, that's always been sort of
the top of the priority list for Jim Harbaugh as
you better be able to protect, you know, the most
important play on the team if you're going to be
back there. And I think that was something that Kim
Mountie had, you know, had had to learn how to
do his rookie season. And I think you know, when
you're talking about building that fifty three and who you
(01:10):
went out there. I think that was part of the process,
and to his credit, it seems like that's the one
thing he really attacked. We always knew he had explosiveness
and had great hands to catch them all the backfield,
it was sort of just the pass protection, especially when
you're a little bit more of a dominiontive back versus
a power back. And I think he's really kind of
come around, not just come around, but he's really excelled
at it. And I think that's what's led to really
(01:33):
for the most part, you know, you just see it's
it's all Kimani like there's there's really not a lot
of variation in that backfield. He's pretty much doing it
all these last few weeks.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
He's earned it.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
He's earned it, you know, with the with the offensive
line of flux, getting Joe All back on Thursday night,
and then to have k Mouni kind of stabilize the
position until Marii and gets back. I mean, it's been
a pleasant surprise. And there has been so many guys
that you know, we'll get into that that have contributed
that we didn't talk about in Week one, you know,
especially these rookies from Gadsend to Mickens. You know, yeah,
(02:03):
Trey Harris. So we talked about the Vikings game after
the game on Friday. So it's Tennessee week. You get
a short buy. How important was this mini buy for
this team?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
I think pretty big. I mean, look, you just just
think about Derwin, right, Derwin leaves the Minnesota game in
the first half, shows up in the second half in
a boot, and he's back out of practice. Now does
that mean he's going to play? I think that's a
very interesting decision for coach Harbaugh and his staff to
kind of figure out how they want to play this game.
I mean, they've already traded their two starting corners. You know,
(02:36):
the deadline is Tuesday or Wednesday. I think it's Wednesday. Yeah,
one came to LA, right, Yeah, yeah, yeah, McCreary come
to LA. And I think you're probably going to see
more guys on that team traded here. So it appears
as though, you know, with a new GM with an
interim head coach, this is a team that is cert
certainly at one and seven looking forward, and I think
(02:56):
you have to decide, Okay, we got the mini buy,
and now we've got a team that across the board,
and you never want to take an opponent lightly. They
beat the Cardinals in Arizona. I think it was yeah,
like che was in Arizona, so inexplicably it was a
wild game. They had no business winning that game. But
I think it's sort of one of those we got
the mini by and can we can we afford to
(03:18):
give during another week? And when I look at like
the signing of Marcus Williams of the practice squad and
that sort of stuff, it's sort of lining up like that.
So I think you combine the mini by with this
particular opponent and just not on their personnel, but how
they're behaving right now with her interim coach with are
we going to see Simmons? And like if I think
if you see it come out on Friday that they're out,
(03:38):
I think that'll end up being you could end up having,
you know, almost two weeks of rest for some of
these guys going into the Steelers game on Sunday, if
you want to play it that way.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, Simmons did not practice I believe on Wednesday now, right,
so we'll check his status throughout the week, you know,
Calvin Ridley didn't practice right. Is the offense for the
Titans is is certainly a work in progress with cam
Ward under center. And you know what's funny, man cam
Ward and Dayon Henley were teammates at Wasoo. At Wazoo,
Dayon led the team in tackles, and of course Kim
(04:07):
Ward did his thing at quarterbacks. So we just should
talk to day On about just his relationship with cam Ward.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
But this is a team.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Six of their seven losses have come by double digits,
so like they've been blowouts. I think the one game
that wasn't double digits was weak one against the Broncos.
So this is a team certainly a transition, and we
saw the Chargers lose to a rookie quarterback on the
road earlier this year. Though, So to your point, like
it's the NFL, you can't take any team lightly. But
if you have an opportunity to rest Durwin for Sunday
(04:34):
night football against Pittsburgh, I think you do it.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah, you know, And look, offensively, they're pretty much either
last or second to last in every single category. They
have really struggled. I mean literally thirty second or thirty
first in yards yards per play passing, rushing, time up possession,
like all of those are either thirty two or thirty one.
(04:58):
And so if you feel confident in what you saw
from RJ. Mickens and Elijah Molden, and you know if
Kenda Williamson, who we saw in the preseason was very
versatile and moved around from all those spots, like if
you can do that, and look, Durwin's going to fight
to play. We know that, sure, But to me, it's
just and if he's good, he's just like, what's your
percentage meter? You know? If we got the Steelers coming in,
(05:21):
they run a ton of twelve and twenty two and
they got you know, freaking Washington out there, who's two
hundred and eighty pounds. Who's going to be on the
side of that line? If Drwin's lining up, they is
sort of like that slot defender that's attack like, he's
going to have to deal with a lot of physicality.
I think in that Pittsburgh game that we're I think
that's where this conversation comes in. And again, I'm sure
coach would punch me in the throat if you heard
(05:42):
us talking like this, because you know, you never want
to say, oh, we're looking to the Steelers. But I
think that's that sort of we're ret and I think
a lot of that could depend on what happens between now.
On Sunday. You could see Tony Pollard get moved. I
think I would. I would suspect he'll probably get moved
before the deadline. You might see Kevin Zeidler get moved.
You know, signed a one year deal. Who's you know
late in his career, who's used to playing was on
(06:04):
Detroit last year, was playing for the Ravens for all
those years. Like I think, if you see those sort
of signals, it could condition what the Chargers opt to
do with a lot of these guys that could really
benefit from maybe another week of rest.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Now one guy we won't see his tar heeb still. Yeah,
that's a bummer, which is a bummer. But again, if
if this is the stretch that he has to miss,
I guess it's probably the best stretch to miss, given
what the November December look like. But to see maybe
Nico Reid step up and finally get activated. We saw
the plays that he made throughout the course of training
camp in preseason, that Hall of Fame game in particular,
(06:41):
and just to line in with guys like Mickens and
Trey Harrison, Gats and these young rookies.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Maybe Nico Reid maybe it's a good.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Spot for him. Fatally, Yeah, it could be. It'll be again.
That's one also that I think it'll be interesting to
see how they play it. Is Nico read More of
a developmental player that they're afraid would get plucked off
the practice squad, so they're just keeping him, you know,
on the active roster, and he's in active every single
week and they're looking toward twenty twenty six. Or you
see someone that is a depth piece that you trusted
to throw out there on a Sunday because you know
(07:11):
they can put John the slot and just have Cam
and Dante on the outside and essentially take all those
slot snaps from Tarheeve and you're not rotating that particular
player to the outside. Maybe it's Dean Leonard. You know,
his windows is open, and that's going to be a
huge boost for special teams. They desperately needed him out there,
so that's going to be a big win for Ryan
Ficken and his lot. But like I remember, two preseasons ago,
(07:32):
we were like, oh man, Dean Leonard's taking the jump.
You know, he looked great, and so I think that's
a possibility where, like you said, if it lines upright
where you have either an opportunity for Nico to get
his feet wet against the thirty second ranked pass defense
and a team that's you know, doesn't have you know,
Calvin Ridley out there, I mean nothing against ella reck
(07:56):
andemo ala manor ala manor ala manor there we go,
you salamander, Yeah, exactly, Alamanner and those guys out there
at receiver where it could be a perfect spot to
get his feet wet.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
You know this this stretch, if you look at what's
happening with Tennessee, then Sunday Night footballgainst the Steelers, then
Jacksonville a bye in the Raiders. I think we kind
of ended the podcast last week talking about, like you
break the season up in quarters, like this is a
crucial quarter for the Chargers to stack wins, stack wins
in the AFC and then get ready for this November
(08:32):
December stretch where you have tougher opponents on paper.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, and you get healthy. Yeah, Like that's the key
is you know it could The way the schedule laid
out really couldn't have been better for what they're dealing with,
you know where, like you said, you have your mini
by after the Thursday, you know, Whilela Marian's out, while
you were dealing with Joe Alt. You know, you had
all these home games, and obviously they didn't win all
the home games that we would have liked to see.
You know, they end up dropping three or four, but
(08:55):
I think that's still in front of them. You do
have the Sunday night or at home. The Steelers are
dealing with some attrition and have not played really good
football despite spending a ton of money on their defense,
and it is not performed up to the level that
they're paying it. And then, like you said, you get
the Raiders, you get a buy and then I think, slowly,
gradually you get all these guys that are coming back.
(09:16):
I mean, look, we already talked about it the day after,
but like the return of Jolt, we said it then
and I'll say it again, it can't be overstated. Like
you see the impact that he has, and I thinks
as great as Kimani has been the idea of getting
a Mari and Hampton back behind, you know what now
is a quarterback who leads the league in passing, Who's
(09:39):
second in the league in completions, Who's second in the
league in touchdown passes? Like that's that's it's not just
complimentary football offense, defense, special teams. It's complementary offense. Like, Okay,
now Herbert's running the ball a lot like Herbert in
the last what three games, has got fourteen carries for
ninety five yards, averaging seven her Like, all of that's
(10:01):
going to come into play. And when I think about
the explosiveness that we saw from Amari and Hampton before
he went down and where he I mean, he was
one of the top backs in the league. He was humming,
you know, Like the idea that that's going to be
coming back is incredibly exciting.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
And I think with with Kimani, you know, we talked
a couple of weeks ago about Okay, you're gonna look
for a running back on the open market. I think
Kimani has shown that he could be the RB two
on this team. He can compliment Amarion nicely. We you know,
we we were expecting Nase and Amarian to kind of
trade and fourth quarter kind of wear teams down. I
(10:37):
think Kimani has proven that he can be that kind
of one. A to Marion when a Marion does come back.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Yeah, I think the one I still envision them. I'm
sure Joe's making calls. Hortiz is making calls on backs
just because you know, right now you think like a
bigger back, Well, I just think you have Jared Patterson
kamani By Dell right now. That's those are your two
healthy running backs on this team.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
So at Haskins her too, we should.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Make That's what I mean. Like, the idea to me
is running backs typically come very cheap at the trade deadline.
It's not up up. It's not a position where you're
paying a huge premium even when they're really good. When
you see backs move, it's usually for a Day three pick.
So to me, if there is a Tony Pollard, a
Bressee Hall, you know those sort of things, I would
(11:21):
assume they're going to go out and grab that just
to protect themselves. I mean, it's Tennessee right now, but
in a week, a week from Sunday, we're gonna be
talking about I Smith her big Watt, like you know
that defense is, you know, and then think about the
Philly defense that's coming down the Pike. You know, like
there are the Chiefs that you still have to play,
the Broncos that you still have to play. To me,
(11:42):
it's almost it's almost a preventative measure. You know, they
don't want We know how much they love their draft picks,
and we know what they've been able to do with
seventh rounder Mickens, fifth rounder Tarheb cam and Iron Deez guess,
and they love their picks. But I do think there's
also something to be said that and look, it'll also
tell us what's going on with these injuries. You know,
(12:03):
they're very protective of their injury designations and who's what
how far along they are, So to me, it tells
you that maybe Amaran is a little further away from
coming back if they do go out and get someone.
And I think that's sort of the beauty of the
trade deadline and being pushed back a little bit, where
you have these teams that are like, Okay, we're Tennessee,
(12:24):
what are we going to do with Tony Pollard? He
still got one more year on his deal. Where are
we at as a team, and you know, or we
fine with Taj and you can find backs late in
the draft and things like, like to me, those those
are the sort of things you can go take advantage of.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
You know, Buddy, I think a game like Tennessee on Sunday.
Clearly they've been overmatched in most of their matchups. But
I think for the Chargers, like we saw a very
different team against Indianapolis than we saw when they played
the Minnesota Viking. So I think this is a good
test to kind of see where where they are, you
know against Tennessee, Like, do they do they blow Tennessee out?
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Does it get more competitive than it needs to be?
Speaker 2 (12:58):
And I think you can kind of see kind of
where they are as a team over the next couple
of weeks and then maybe make some decisions as to
who you need to bring in and just kind of
where they are right now, because I do think it's
we just saw two different games, and I get it.
The Colts, I think are much more far along and
they're humming right now on offense. But you want to
(13:19):
see what's real, right and I think maybe Tennessee is
your first opportunity to kind of see it.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Yeah, I kinda. I'll make the baseball analogy for the pitcher.
You know, it's like, Okay, he's thrown eighty five pitches,
we're through, or he's thrown ninety five pitches, or in
the sixth inning? Do I want to send him out
for the seventh? Okay? Well what kind of pitches were they?
How stressful were the innings? Like? To me, it's it
was nice to have that Vikings game, to have a
second half where there's not a lot of stress, where
(13:45):
you can rotate more guys through, where Herbert can just
hand the ball off and he doesn't have to take
unneeded shots because you got to go win a game.
I think that's sort of what you're speaking to right, is, Hey,
here's an opportunity for you to maybe not have to
put Trey Pipkins back in or or And look, I
think Bobby Hart might have won that job, you know,
the way that the coaches are talking about him when
(14:05):
you look at when you go back and watch he's
played really well.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
How about that story, man, I think it's incredible he
hadn't started a game in what twenty twenty one.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Not two thousand and one. Like I said, I'm the prior,
that would be something it would be.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
But I mean that's remarkable.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
I mean those are the types of stories that you
just you don't envision coming into a season, who knew
Bobby Heart was going to be on the team yet
alone maybe win the starting right tackle position.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah, and I think and you know, in the case
of Trey who played some guard last year and Sawyer
who hasn't been healthy, Like, is that another position because
you can maybe go out and find a guard, you know,
with with Beckton having played what do I I have
it at here? Beckton has played fifty eight percent of
the snaps, Like, you've got to protect yourself.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
He didn't practice Wednesday either.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, So to me, that's like another position where you know,
we brought up Kevin Zeidler, right, somebody that we thought
the Chargers might end up being.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
You think it would be more of a veteran because
you know, we we spoke about a month ago saying,
you know, you typically don't want to give up an
offensive line.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Very hard to get during the trade deadline, but maybe
there's a there's.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
A vemi he was not a one year deal. He's
thirty something years old. You know, he's he's he's in
his fourteenth season, so figure he's probably thirty five years old.
It's like he went from Baltimore to Detroit. You think
about where those two teams were last, you know, in
the last five years, and it's like, Hey, if you're
Kevin Seidler, do you go to the front office and say, look, man,
(15:26):
I signed here, I'm fine here, But man, if this
is my last go around or my second to last
go around, it sure would be nice to be playing
meaningful football in November and October instead of getting like,
I think that's what people I think that's what fans
maybe lose sight of is when you're talking about the trenches,
when you were talking about playing guard in the NFL,
(15:47):
these guys are getting there freaking heads caved in sixty
five times or you know, between forty and sixty times
a game. And if you're thirty five, you're married and
you've got a couple of kids, and this is the
last girl, Like, do I want to do that for
a while? One in seventeen that's thirty second in offense
and has an interim head coach, and like, is that
what I really want to do for the next ten weeks?
(16:08):
And so I think that's where those conversations go. Like
just to like, when you say a veteran, I think
That's where that comes in. If you're a Wyatt teller,
if you're you know, if you're Kevin Zeidler, do you
go to the front off and say, hey, man, can
you come on? Can you do me a solid here?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Which is why I didn't understand why Tyler Lockett got
released and then went to the Raiders.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Right, Like, if you're Tyler Lockett, are you trying to
go to a contender, because it seems like you just
went to like a similar situation.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
And now I understand that way, and that.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Could just maybe speak to you know, Pete helping him out,
you know, as a former coach, as opposed to any
other team that was really interested in him, you know,
because he sat out there for a while, and you
know that he's he's an explosive receiver, you know, so,
and look, receiver is a tough position, man, it is
if you just historically historically, you know, if you look
(16:55):
at it historically, once you hit thirty, it is a
precipitous drop for nearly all of these guys because it
relies so much on explosiveness, and Tyler Lockett's most important
attribute was his explosiveness.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
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estimate at splittero dot com. Slash Chargers. The NFC East
didn't do the Chargers any favors this weekend. Denver destroy
the Cowboys, Kansas City destroyed the Commanders, especially in that
second half. You look at the AFC race right now,
and you know, I look at a team like Jacksonville,
who you play in a couple of weeks, that's gonna
(17:49):
be you know, wildcard implications, Pittsburgh wildcard implications because I'm
not convinced they win the division. Now, I think Baltimore's coming.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
It's pretty wild start their favorite. Yeah, that's how crazy
that is that they are favored to win the division
with two wins.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
No doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
So, like you know, the Titans is an AFC game,
but you have Pittsburgh and Jacksonville back to back the Chiefs,
Like we could already start talking about this stuff because
of matters, like they play the Bills on Sunday, the
Broncos play the Texans, so like the Texas is trying
to get themselves back into it. So this is where
things get really really tight. And for being five and three,
(18:22):
those first three games of the season loom large right now.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
I think, just speaking to this week, you know, one
of the things that this team was so good at
last year was they won every single game they were
supposed to win. And this year, I think you could
say it hasn't quite gone like that. You know what,
specifically when I think about New York and how that
New York team played versus how the Chargers played and
(18:45):
the idea that you gave him two opera, you gave
them ten points, you know, on turnovers inside the five
yard line with a goal to go situation on two
interceptions and you end up losing twenty one to eighteen.
Like that just didn't happen last year. And that's like
such a big game that looms low and that's where
you have to now start circling. Okay, is it going
to be the Eagles, the Steelers. The textit like these
(19:06):
teams that were playoff teams last year that you got
to go out and get it one, if not two
of those wins. You know, so this week it's one
of those, Hey, this was your identity last year. That's
how you got to eleven wins. Is whatever backup quarterbacks.
Teams that are in the bottom five of whatever category, defense, offense, both,
they won all those games. And so to me back
(19:27):
to your point about the Vikings game following the Colts game, Look,
they delivered on what they promised during the week during
all their pressers that they were sick to their stomachs
that they couldn't believe what they put out there the
last few weeks, and they were going to make it
right and you were going to see it on Thursday night.
And we did. I mean, we saw a dominant defense
that reminded us of the twenty twenty four defense. We
(19:49):
saw a balanced offense, and we saw a team for
the first time since week I think it was Week seventeen, Yeah,
it was Week seventeen in New England put their foot
on a T team's throat and leave it there. You know.
When they knocked off New England last year forty to three.
This is what that's what that Minnesota game felt like.
And I hope that's what we see in Tennessee because
(20:10):
then you kind of craft this narrative and they can
say they don't hear anything in the media, but then
you have people nationally talking about, Okay, they're getting healthy
Joe Altz back. Herbert's playing the best quarterback of anybody
in the league right now, you know, And that's what
you can get going into that national all eyes on
you one game in the time slot contest against the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Oh yeah, Offensively obviously, we talked about this last week.
A Rondy Gatzid. They've unlocked something with him at the
tight end position to have him in a pass catching
arsenal with lad Who's come on since that Miami game.
You know, Keenan didn't play as much but was very
effective when he did play. Quentin was not targeted, but Quentin,
(20:51):
we saw what he did the first four weeks of
the year. How would you assess the weapons that Justin
has right now and just kind.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Of how the offense has he evolved money from the
beginning of the year to where they are to currently.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Yeah, I think I think it's what we said, you
know when but when we were going into the draft
and we talked about what a deep tight end class
it was, and we said, you know, could you see
you know, if Trey Warren slides, if Colston Lovelin slides,
you know, that's just a slam dunk pick at twenty one,
Like if he's that's what every mock draft had if
(21:23):
they lasted, they didn't. And then in the second round
we're talking about Mason Taylor and Harold Fannin and Ferguson.
Like so we knew, we like I shouldn't say it
that way, everybody knew how much Herbert likes throwing to
a pass catching tight end. I mean we've seen it.
We've seen him elevate the game of guys that came
in on their one year deals year after year after year.
And so to to to get a Rondez and to
(21:47):
have that staff our front office here with the Chargers
kind of envision what this became is incredible. You know,
I don't know what number tight end he was taking,
it's double digits, but he he's playing better than Tyler
Warren right now over the last two three weeks. So
like that's how good.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
And like the guy Cole said Lovelin that we talked about,
I mean, it's like it's it's not even a conversation.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Yeah, I mean, And Tyler Warren's the best tight end
in the league right now as a rookie. And and
like I think we talked about this going into the
Colts game, he's playing better than brock Bauer's played last year.
Like that's and that was the greatest rookie tight end
season we've ever seen, one of the greatest tight end
seasons we've ever seen. And that's how good he's been.
So to me, that's just going to continue. Herbert loves
(22:33):
throwing to those guys in that part of the field,
and he looks like someone that is going to be
a real issue to stop because how many resources can
you commit to him when you've got Lad McConkey out there,
when you've got Quinton Johnston out there. And like again
we say it, Quinton didn't get targeted. You know, if
they wanted to take him away, Okay, take him away.
We're good with Ladd and Trey Harris and Rondez and Kimani.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
We're good.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
So it's funny Jim said that they doubled the Rondez
on Ladd's touchdown, though, it's like given him the ultimate
respect as a rookie.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
And now you're getting burned yea. And so that's what's great,
right again, that's the complimentary part of playing offense is
now you've got this tight end threat that when you
go into a game. I don't think it's any different
than going into a game with the Colts and it's
Tyler Warrent going into a game with the Raiders, and
it's Brock Bowers going into a game with the Chiefs,
and it's Travis Kelce. I think after three weeks, I
don't know how you could argue it like that's what
(23:23):
you're talking about with Rondez guest and hey man, this
guy is killing teams. We have got to figure out
how to slow him down. And that's how Lad gets
one hundred yard game with a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, this game, it's very straightforward, right, You're playing a
team that you should be you should beat up on
the road and get to six and three. Is there
anything else that we should be looking out for in
this matchup that you think Finnish should we should watch
on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
To me, Like, the number one thing is Jeffrey Simmons
is going to play because if he plays along with
Devandre Sweat, you can wreck a game.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
He is you know he wasn't Jeffrey Simmons first game
against the Chargers, yes, twenty nineteen.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
And he wrecked them. Yeah, completely wrecked them. Yeah. That
was the Melvin Gordon seven hundred football fumbled. It was.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
It was Ryan Tannehills first start, yes, and then.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
They went to the play they pulled Mariota put in
TenneT right, I think it was. Yeah, they pulled Mariota
put in ten. Is that what it was?
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I think both teams were like four and five at
that point, and then the Chargers went this way the Titan.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
And they went that way. Yeah. That was. That was
that game. So here I am. Let's see receiving stats.
I want to see what we got yards over the
last three weeks. Gadsden is the leader in receiving yards
by nearly a hundred, three hundred and Grandity at one
hundred and sixty eight yard but three twenty eight. Next
(24:36):
in line is Craft at three forty four, then Kelsey,
then Warren and in receptions the last three weeks he's
first tied with Kyle Pitts in touchdowns, He's second to
McBride and Dallas Goddard. In first downs, he's second to
Travis Kelcey, who at twelve Gadsden has eleven. Like, that's
(24:57):
how dominant he's been. And so that changes the calculus
of all these defenses of hey man, this is our
primary focus. He's the most effective of anybody catching passes
right now on that team. So but back to your point,
I'm sorry I was pulling that up. I was waiting
for it to come up.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
To me.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
That's like, the one issue is the interior with with
backed In in his issues and with trying to figure
out who's gonna who you're going to put in there.
Simmons into Andre Sweat can get those quick pressures that can,
you know, maybe put a hurt on Herbert, and that's
not what you want to see in a game like this.
You do not want him getting hit a bunch of times.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
No, So well, we'll get to Kimanti Viadell.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Buddy a great conversation with a guy who a six
round pick last year, and we saw the flashes he
had the pedigree coming out of Troy, but to see
what he's done.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
The last three weeks been pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Indeed, you know he's one of our favorites. Great dude,
as big a part of this surge here these two
of these last three weeks with these wins as any player,
because you've been able to balance out the offense.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
All right, here's number thirty.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
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as promised, Running back Combody Videll joins us on Chargers
(26:45):
Weekly and Cybody, I don't know if we just start
the last three weeks. What have the last three weeks
been like for you to know that you had to
step up at a role when you're thriving in it.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
It's just it's felt good, honestly, you know, just being
able to step but for my teammates and contribute to
the team, and you know, to play good felt good.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
I'm gonna start earlier than that. I'm gonna go back
two years. You're drafted. We're talking on the podcast, and
I don't know if we've had this conversation before. I
had it with your dad. We were talking about it
over the sideline. I took so much incoming for pronouncing
your name correctly. I specifically went into Detroy game notes.
I went back and listened to broadcasts of your games
(27:26):
to make sure is it Videll? Is it hilarious? And
so we finally I settlized, like, all right, it's Kimani Videll.
That's what it is. And man as he would tell you,
it's three weeks of taking incoming from the people like
that's that. There's no way vi id Al is not
pronounced by Dell. How often? Here's my question. I'm the
circuitout path to get to my question. How often do
(27:47):
people pronounce your name correctly? How often do you feel
like you have to correct them. Do you care? And
can you for once on the record just kind of
give it to us how you want us to pronounce
it during the games?
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Is I'm most people say it all. I like, I don't.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
I mean, I don't put a lot into it just
because like I know, like that's how it's spelled, so
like I don't. But honestly, Kimani is probably the one
that people mess up most. But I mean instead yeah, yeah,
Cumani instead of Kimani.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Have you heard the Spanish radio guys say money videl
for men?
Speaker 4 (28:26):
Yeah, yeah, I have. That was that was pretty cool.
What was that the Denver game last year?
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (28:32):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was that was pretty cool. Yeah,
that was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Adrian's like the king of nicknames. He nailed it right
from the beginning.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
You know, It's one thing to do what you did
in Miami, but to have that type of performance on
Thursday night football where you're like you're on the post
game show, you're signing the footballs.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
What was that like for you?
Speaker 4 (28:51):
It was cool?
Speaker 5 (28:52):
I mean it was like, uh almost like a dream almost,
you know, I dream of those days and uh, you know,
I'm just happy and bless to you know, be in
that space.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
You get more reps because of past protection. I mean,
we know how important that is. Here to coach Mac
and to coach Bischoff and coach Row kind of walk
us through last year versus this year and sort of
what you were doing to kind of work your way
up to that spot and what goes into it, Like
what are the challenges of becoming a good pass protection back.
Speaker 5 (29:21):
It's a lot of challenges, honestly, and especially in the NFL.
You know, you have so many different exotic looks. I mean,
the Vikings they had an exotic stuff last week, and
just I think like it's just a time on task
kind of a thing, just you know, just building it
through the reps and being able to just go accustomed
to it and you know, seeing it multiple times, you know,
(29:44):
it takes the time to just kind of get like
used to that and just the speed of it. And
then obviously you know we have a great quarterback. You know,
they're trying to you know, fluster him and get get
to him. So yeah, I mean I've just I just
built through repetition and you know, just watching.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Film, how much of it is seeing it and like
just you know, it's if you can put it into
words for people that are watching and listening, because you
hear that make it sound like it's so easy, But
I would assume it's identifying. Is it pre snap identification?
Is it you know? Is it stunts? Like what is
it that's happening out there that that makes it a
challenge that reps and time on tasks kind of help.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
With really and truly, like there's sometimes like in a
play where you'll they'll have like a certain amount of
guys up on the line, and there's an instance where
you can have like three different guys and you just
have to be really good with your eyes, with your feet,
and then obviously like they're dropping at the snap, so
(30:44):
it's happening fast and they're they're on the line of scrimmage,
so you know you're meeting them really halfway in the backfield,
so uh, just you know, just and then also like
you could just tell by like body language to just
picking up on the on film.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
So really and truly, like it's.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
It's very difficult, but you know, just growing accustomed to
it and just the time on task has just really
helped me.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
You know.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Keimodi, we come into this year, and you know Amarian
and Najiar here and.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Just the durability of those guys throughout the course of.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Their career to have both of them go down in
such a short period of time. And we talked about
this a couple of weeks ago, just the ability to
take advantage of your opportunity. I know you spoke to
me about it a couple of weeks ago, but I
don't know if you could just kind of illustrate just
what it takes we don't make the fifty three to
(31:42):
stay present at all times and then be prepared and
fully engaged to take advantage of that opportunity.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Yeah, I mean, I just try to use that time
when I was in a practice squad to the best
of my ability, just to you know, get better during
that time.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
You know, just.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
You know you're not playing in the game, so use
that to your advantage. You know, you could train harder,
you know, watch more film. You know, you're not putting
as much like in your body wise to get prepared
for the game. So you know, I was kind of
able to just like almost like a mini off season,
you know, to kind of get prepared take us through.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
I think you got shoved out left sideline too. Maybe
one almost got into the end zone. It looked like,
you know, Tucker's running in motion flips, looks like it's
a counter and you're supposed to maybe follow him and
you know, maybe into a big gap ORCI is that right?
And then so you end up bouncing it. And I
can see on film when you watch back Tuckers almost
like where do you go? Yeah, kind of take us
through that play, what you saw, how often that happens,
(32:46):
and and sort of kind of what the conversation is
after that, because it was kind of funny. Everybody just
sort of followed and you just took this opportunity that
looked like it presented itself.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
Yeah, I mean they it was like it was supposed to.
I mean, you're right, it was to go back, but
they lost the edge on the left side.
Speaker 4 (33:03):
So I just ran.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
I really should have scored on that play. I'm honestly
kind of mad about that.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
But well, how so, but you think you should have
watched just truck the dude.
Speaker 4 (33:12):
I mean it was it was me one on one
with the corner.
Speaker 5 (33:16):
You know, I should have I should have did something else,
But I mean it is what it is.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
It's a learning experience.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
So I mean you got nine yards out of it.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Yeah, you follow the way it was scripted, you may
get one.
Speaker 5 (33:27):
So you can't get to Yeah, no, no, no, definitely not,
definitely not, but but yeah, I mean I just trusted
my eyes, trusting my feet, and it was just like
my body just went there and I just it's just
so happened to work out.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
You might have.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
The one thing I noticed throughout the course that game
is you got better as the game went on, Like
some of those really tough runts came third and fourth
quarter of that game.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Is that the type of backyard you feel like you
need to get the carries to, like to just kind
of feel it and get into the mode where you're
just you're at your best, like at the end of
the game.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:58):
I mean obviously, like there's nothing like you know, getting
the ball throughout the whole entire game and just like
almost like snowballing. But I mean, I just I try
to give it everything. I have, every every opportunity, every carry,
every reception. But I mean, yeah, I mean those guys
(34:19):
got worn down, you know, throughout the entire game, so just.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
Take their will in the fourth quarter Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
Especially in Miami, the edges were really working. Just kind
of take us through the run game, you know what,
Like I said, coach Bischoff and McDonald and coach Row
are doing and and sort of I don't want to
say it like it's it's working between attacks, but really
looks like you're thriving on the edges. Kind of what's
what do you feel is working? And why might that
be the case?
Speaker 5 (34:48):
I mean, it just so happens that that's just been
the game plan in the past couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
I mean I definitely hit.
Speaker 5 (34:55):
I think I kind of hit a little bit more
like on the inside against the Vikings, But it was
just a game plan. We're just trying to execute it.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Is there one you like better than the other? Is
there what I should say? Let's even if you put out,
you know, edges inside you know kind of it's been
sort of strange like this was a gap power team.
It just feels like concepts are shifting week to week.
Is there? Is that? Is that kind of accurate? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (35:22):
I mean we're we'll do anything that it takes to
win the game. I mean that's that's even running the ball,
more passing, the ball more, whether we feel like gives
us an advantage in the game is what we're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
You take us through the just the four days between
Colts and Vikings, and just the importance to leave so
far Thursday night with a win, to get that mini
by and to get a little bit of rest. But
I have to imagine there was a little bit of
I don't I guess urgency is probably the best word
for it. To get that bad taste out of your
(35:55):
mouth from Indy.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
Yeah, definitely. I mean you kind of look I had
any kind of like, man.
Speaker 5 (36:00):
We're kind of glad almost to have the shorter week
because it kind of you have to move on, you know.
So you know that's what we did, and you're just
trying to improve our bodies before that short week.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
How big of a deal is the mini buy? I know,
I was looking it up. I think you've got fourth
most carrias the last three weeks. Uh fifty, I think
it's fifty one. Sounds about right. Does it help a lot?
Just those three days of having from Thursday off, I
know you're out there yet until Sunday. Does it feel
like a bigger deal?
Speaker 4 (36:32):
Yeah? I mean.
Speaker 5 (36:34):
My body feels good. You know, it's just trying to
get better. It's a long season, so we got a long, longer,
much longer way to go, but just trying to improve
every Weekbuddy.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
How would you assist with this team is now, you
know five and three, a lot of adversity with injuries
and guys stepping up in what ways do you think
you know, those injuries in some of the guys who
are getting their first opportunity, how's that going to help
this team to the back half of the season.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
I would say it just it just builds depth, you know,
having guys to come in and you know eventually when
those other guys start coming back, it just it gives
those guys some confidence, especially like later on the season
when you know sometimes when when guys aren't feeling too
good that you know you can have a good you know,
(37:30):
a good two to come in and put in some
good work.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Special teams. Just kind of how important that is. And
it's such a different looking group this year than it
was last year. Obviously, you know, the dynamic kickoff is
kind of all you've been part of since you've been
in the NFL. But maybe share with us the challenges
of the dynamic kickoff and just kind of you know
what coach Vicken does with that unit. And it's such
a diverse group. Do you feel like we've kind of
figured out what the right personnel is yet for it?
(37:56):
Is it speed? Is it power? Is it a mixture?
You know what I mean? Is it corners? Is it
running backs? Is it d ns? Like what do you
guys kind of all talking about when it comes to
trying to find that perfect mix for each of those units.
Speaker 5 (38:07):
I think it's I mean, we again, like we change
it week to week. Some teams do more speed, some
teams do more power. Some teams you know, try to
use the like the kicker almost like as an asset
with the you know, like kicking knuckleballs down the field
and springing around the field.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
And I mean it's just I mean, it's week to week. Honestly,
it's a week to week league.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Yeah, is it tough? Like is it because it looks
you know, it just looks so different than what we're
used to.
Speaker 5 (38:42):
Yeah, it almost feels like a like a drill you
would do and fall camp almost and especially like I remember,
like at the beginning of last year, a lot of
guys would like start to move when like the kicker
would kick the ball, and like it was just kind
of like an adjustment. But I mean them putting the
ball the forty now instead of the thirty five is
(39:02):
obviously has made more returns.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
We said it at the end of the Vikings game
when he booted out of it back the NS for like, oh,
kick offf covers feeling real good right now? Yeah, I
appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
A lot of kicks this year you've entered you've entitored
fantasy football model, Like the last couple of weeks, what
are the dms looking like?
Speaker 3 (39:24):
What are the the chirping from the from the stands
looking like?
Speaker 5 (39:28):
The dams are absolutely crazy? Yeah, it's it's insane. Oh
give me twenty points. I appreciate you, man, you want
my fantasy this week? Like it's it's all bunch of
stuff like that, But I mean it's a it's been
pretty cool to have to have that kind of you know,
reaction to it. And uh, I mean yeah, I just
want to keep proving, keep showing, uh why people should
(39:51):
have me on their fantasy team.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
It's what I mean, this is this is why you
do it, man, Like when you were drafted, I have
to imagine, like you knew that you were capable of
of this, but to get the opportunity. How much of
the NFL is just being able to seize the opportunity
when it's given to you, because sometimes people don't get
the opportunity.
Speaker 4 (40:12):
Yeah, I mean, you're right.
Speaker 5 (40:13):
Sometimes guys just you know, don't get the opportunity, or
you know, injury happens, or you know, unfortunate situations happen.
I mean, it's it's unfortunate, it's you know, it just
shows you that luck is part of the game. But yeah,
you just gotta take more, just take advantage of your opportunities.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
Yeah, what we got in Tennessee. You have some big
freaking dudes in the middle of that line. I don't
know if they're all gonna play, But I mean between sweat,
I don't know what he's clocking it at. I don't
believe what it's listed. It looks like three seventy five
around there. But with he and Simmons and just kind
of what you've seen so far and what you're going
up against on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (40:52):
Yeah, I mean, they have a lot of masks in
their in their front seven. You know, I don't want
to give too much away, but like you know, we're
trying to figure out how to you know, attack just
their defense, and it's exposing really.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
When you've got like ten guys on the team that
played there, so of all the teams you'll face, you've
got the probably the best intel of any opponent, right.
Speaker 4 (41:19):
Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
Yeah, winning on the road, Like I just I go
back to the beginning of the season, from Brazil to
Vegas to New York to Miami, because have been like
I don't know how manybody else at this point, but
just to get up to winning on the road.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
What does a road wind do for a team?
Speaker 5 (41:43):
It's just momentum. I mean it's not easy playing on
the road. I don't think any anybody really knows what
it's actually liked, you know, just to you know, get
on the flights and you know, do all this and
lay on the flight for four or five hours after
a after a a whole football game. I mean Brazil
(42:03):
was I mean that was crazy. Yeah, fourteen hours after again.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
You'll never have that again.
Speaker 5 (42:08):
Yeah, you wake up, you go to sleep after the
game on the flight, you wake up, you're still on
the flight for another four hours.
Speaker 4 (42:15):
It's just it's insane, but I mean it is what
it is.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
You know, Chris was just doing the math. He's like,
you got to sleep for ten hours. I'm like editing AUF.
I mentioned last one for me, Kimani, I mentioned I
ran into your dad, had a great conversation with him
in Atlanta. How often does family get to see you
in games on the road? Is Nashville one of those games?
Speaker 5 (42:38):
Nashville is one of those games, Miami was one of
those games. Probably Jacksonville is gonna be one of those games.
Anytime we code to the East coast, you know, we
have a good chance of meeting up. And then I
mean even I mean there's some games in the middle there,
like Denver.
Speaker 4 (42:55):
Is like Kansas City, Kansas City, Dallas.
Speaker 5 (43:00):
But uh, you know it's it's it's great to go
back and be able to see my family.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (43:05):
Man.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
Well, hey, we're so happy for your success. Keep it
rolling and we look forward to seeing Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (43:09):
Sir.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Thank you, Thank you, Keimani Keimani by Dell exactly all right.
Speaker 3 (43:13):
For Kimani and Buddy, I'm press has been charged for
before
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