April 4, 2025 • 41 mins
On this episode of Chargers Weekly, Bolts radio play-by-play announcer Matt “Money” Smith and Chargers legend Jahleel Addae recap the latest news involving LA and the entire NFL. They break down everything we learned at the 2025 owners meetings including recapping Head Coach Jim Harbaugh’s comments on the offensive line, free agency, and more. With the 2025 NFL Draft just three weeks away, the hosts discuss how the 1st round could fall, predicting which prospects will be available for the Bolts at pick 22.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Late fifteen to ten touched up well, it just had
to be back on another installment of Chargers Weekly, back
with Julil a Die as he is down at the
homestead as am I. The bolt continues as it progresses
(00:22):
toward full operation, as we approach this season's or should
say this upcoming seasons, off season activities, the OTAs, voluntary,
involuntary rookie camp, all that stuff is coming up. And
I got to be honest, Julia, I got the got
the email from our man Brock over it at the
Chargers and he laid out the schedule, and it just
(00:43):
feels kind of something that coach Harbaugh alluded to at
the owners meetings. It's getting closer. You know, you get
you get a date, you can circle that date. We
know what the press conferences are going to be like,
and it just feels like feels like we're getting rolling, man,
Like this thing is getting ready to roll, and we're
gonna have players back at the facility and guys to
talk to.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, it's just alluding back to my plan days. Right
around this time.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
You know the draft's coming, You're getting ready to watch
the draft and see who's getting selected. Is it your position?
Is it not your position? And then right now you're
in the thick of training, you're you're at it. Whoever,
who's your training, whatever facility you're at, you're working out,
you're putting in the work because OTAs is coming up, right,
and you got to show up in shape. Obviously, the
OTA schedule is a little bit more doubt back than
I would say you would do with your personal trainer.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Really, just more you know, getting yourself down in.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
They almost start you all over again to ramp you
back up, because it's a system, right, they want to
start to slow, ramp you up and then get you
into practice. So this is about the time where you know,
as an athlete, this is the time where it's like
we took our vacations, but look, whatever we're doing in
the off season, it's time to start putting that work in.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah, how much you know? I think the big thing too,
And I've said this before on Chargers Weekly. I don't
think it's it bears repeating, but it does bear repeating.
I should say, like you got you got the same
coaches back, man, you know you lost you lost coach O'Leary,
your safety's coach. That was it. Otherwise everybody else is back.
I'm floored that Jesse Minner didn't get head coaching interviews.
(02:06):
Absolutely floored. It's great for the Chargers, and I don't
suspect it'll be that way next year if he does
what I expect him to do. But just how much
of an advantage that is. Where last season you have
an entirely new slate of coaches, every single one of them,
this year, you pretty much have every single coach, like
I said, save safeties coming back.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yeah, it's really important. It's from a coaching standpoint and
a player standpoint. Just splitting from a player standpoint. You know,
you're going into OTAs and you're like, hey, we know
this playbook ready from the back back of our hands.
So now we're not just implementing, you know, the foundation.
We're looking at ways we can tweak it. Ways teams
have beat us, and let's try to run, you know,
different coverages. Let's try to tweak it a little bit
(02:47):
in practice in OTA's and see how it is right,
see how it works.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
If it doesn't work, hey, then we go back to
what it was.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
But when you have so much coaching changes and a
lot of turnover, then you're playing you're almost like babysitting, right.
You're installing fresh lea. You're installing brand new terms, terminologies, techniques.
When you have coach who stay together and players who
they brought back who know the system, you get to
come in day one after working out and getting ready
to you know, for installing the classroom, you get the role.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
You're cooking with hot grease already.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
You know the schedule is first day, I'm doing air quotes, airbuds.
I shouldn't do air quotes. First day is April twenty first,
And a lot of people point to what's participation, who's here,
who's rolling in? How big of a deal is that?
Is it a big deal when you have a lot
more guys at the facility than you don't, I would
assume those guys that aren't there are still getting their
(03:35):
work in wherever they might be.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I mean, most of the time you have about a
ninety percent, you know right where everyone's there. Most of
the times it might be guys who might be just
to be real, guys who are make a little bit
more money.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Guys who might be a.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Higher profile type athlete, higher a profile player on the team,
and they have a specific regimen that they live by,
they die by, and some coaches allow it, some coaches don't.
Some players care, some players don't. Like, Hey, find me.
But I know this is what works. Coach, when I
show up, I'm going to come and shape. From a
player standpoint, you would love to have all your guys there.
Like I said, it's all about chemistry, It's all about communication.
It's all about being in the classroom where we can
(04:07):
take time. We don't have a game, we don't have
to exert all our energy into five to six days.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
We get to take time. Speak about it from our
point of view.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Corners safety speak about it from their point of view,
Offensive line over protections, talk to Herbert about.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Hey, what do they see? What does he see?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
So to have everybody in the building is ideal? Right,
does it happen all the time? No, But I definitely
think having everybody there is and doesn't pay a big factor.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah. I mentioned the twenty first, so I'm looking at
it now. The email that our man Brock sent out
for media availability. So the twenty second, that's Tuesday, be
able to be there. So maybe we shift the little
Chargers weekly that day to do it on the twenty
second instead that'll be at Tuesday instead of a Thursday,
and then the following Monday, same deal. You end up
getting the new safety's coach. I mentioned there was only
one change, so Adam Fuller going to be made available
(04:53):
to us, And I appreciate that about coach Harbaugh. Not
every head coach's comfortable letting assistance chat with the media,
and last year allowed all those guys a media session.
I think it showcases their football knowledge, their personality, you know,
their history with the game. You get guys like Mike
Elston and Andy Bischoff that maybe people don't know that
(05:14):
have been around for so long. It just had you know,
coach dev on the old line and hearing about him
being the offensive lineman of the year when he was
at Iowa as a player, Like just it's great. It's
a great opportunity to kind of put a story, a
backstory with a name, so you know, you know, like
Clink is one of my favorite guys as you know
him well, Julie ov being out there as a coach
during training camp with the defensive backs, but like just
(05:36):
really good dudes. And I'm anxious to meet the newest one,
Adam Fuller. So that's kind of what the schedule is
in between that. Of course, we've got the preview of
the draft the week before the draft on April seventeenth.
We have the actual day one of the draft the
twenty fourth. Both coach Harbaugh and general manager Joe Ortie
is going to be available for each of those sessions.
So they'll do a presser after day one, after day two,
(05:58):
and after day three rec happen their picks, and that
seems to be the event that we're all pointed to her.
But before we get to that, tell me you think
big deal? Not big deal? And what do you expect?
There's one person that I'm wondering if he's going to
show up on April twenty first and twenty second, and
that's Rashaan Slater. And is I know those two sides
(06:20):
are trying to get this thing hammered out. I don't know.
I shouldn't say I know. I'm pretty sure there's communication
between the two sides. But how big of a deal
do you think, because you kind of know how this
organization operates, Julia, And we saw Derwin get his deal
a little bit later in camp, we saw Joey Bosa
get his deal a little bit later in the summer.
(06:41):
Just kind of your idea about is it a big deal?
Is it not a big deal If they can't get
this thing knocked out before this little wave of a
voluntary sort of participation rolls around.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I think that just goes you know that It all
matters on what's being said behind the scene, right, What
are they're telling this agent, What are they telling Slater, Hey, like, hey,
we're gonna get it done. We want you here in
the building. Like you said, you alluded to Durwin James.
He's an example. We got him done. He showed up,
he did the right thing. He was there, he was
in attendance, right. Just knowing racheon Slater's personality, I think
he shows up. Don't don't quote me, but I think
(07:15):
he shows up. I think he, you know, goes to work.
But I will say, if you show up and you're
waiting to get on getting a deal, I don't know
if you're going to those workouts and you're not running,
you're not cutting, you're not planting. You may be in
the meetings, right, you may be in the meetings going
over protections, maybe just around the building for chemistry.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
But if he does show up.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I definitely con bet my bottom dollar he's not working
on until he signs that extension.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
And I think the thing to remember with that particular
extension is, you know, that's the prism, you know, from
which you need to view it through, is Drwin Joey.
It's it's gonna be, you know, the conversation is gonna
be making him the highest paid offensive lineman in the league.
I mean, like that's the sort of thing that they're
kicking around. And that's why it took a while for Derwin,
you know, when he did his Remember, the big hang
(07:58):
up was, well, we don't want to be the paid safety.
Durwin's not a safety. Derwin's a defensive weapon and a leader,
and you need to kind of make this in line
with that a little bit more than just making them
the highest paid safety. And they did the same thing
with Joey, you know, and so those things tend to
take a bit longer, and it's not necessarily because the
team is reluctant to hand over all the money. But
(08:21):
you've done a big money deal, Juliel with with Ed maguire.
You know how good he is at it and how
he wants to structure these things to try to give that,
and I think that's what people forget, right. It's just
the flexibility that they're trying to build into this deal
and figure out how they want to lay out each
annual you know, salary year, bonus and all of those things.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, I totally agree with to When I was going
back to my deal, there was a certain time, you know,
we would make and they would make an offer, we
would counter right, and then we're They'll say, well, okay,
well we can we can push his money towards the
back of the last two years, or we can you know,
we can hide some of that money and to sign
a bonus. So obviously I didn't make and I didn't
sign a contract that Rason Slater is going to sign.
So there's a lot of moving pieces that have to
(08:59):
be made, right, then numbers have to make sense for
both parties. I do think they're going to get the
deal done, but like you said, it's a lot of
moving pieces and how.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
They want to structure it. The biggest thing is how
do you want to structure it? Right? And I think
that's the reason why we have a hold up here.
But I know it will get done.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, And I like I set the tone with that
just because it's sort of the latest news that we
have is these dates and who's going to be around
and select Charger players. It'd be great to talk to
Rashaan about getting that contract squared away at that point,
and Herbert, you know, might chat a little bit. No
doubt he'll want to celebrate that as Rashawn's one of
the the you know, the guys he's closest with on
the team and obviously perhaps the most important player on
(09:34):
the team, protecting his blindside. But it also rolls into
the comments that were made down in Orlando from coach Harbaugh,
and a lot of it centered around the offensive line
because that seems to be the one position group that
is garnering the most attention, I think rightfully. So you know,
going into free agency, going through the draft process, and
I think you can take a lot away from what
(09:55):
coach said. Number one, that McKay beck then's going to
play right guard. That you know, he talked about how
he visualized he and Joe Alt and what that and
something we talked about, you know what but that's going
to look like, and how excited he is about that prospect.
And then he kind of I don't want to say
double down, but he was, you know, very upfront about yes,
(10:17):
Zion is going to get reps at center. Zion is
like it wasn't just oh, he's got a shot to
be the center. I think the way that I interpreted,
you know, the delivery in that answer about Zion is
we'd like him to be our starting center like that,
if he can pull this off, that's what we think
is going to be best for us in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah, And that just goes to show you the flexibility
and the versatility of Zion. Right.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
He's obviously a really good guard, first round draft pick, strong,
one of the most physical, like built guys I've seen
around put together. And that just goes to show because
one thing about being the center, you and not only
have to know the protections right, You got to be
on the same accord as a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
You got to see the same way that the quarterbacks seeing.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I remember when I was playing, Nick Hardwick and Philip
Rivers playing together and they're speaking the same language. Sometimes
Phillip's called out the protections and sometimes Nick Harwick, I'm blitz,
I'm in the a gap and Nic will override him
and say no where sliding left, and Philip goes with it,
knowing that the play clock is coming down and he
has to get the ball off. So the chemistry between
the center and the quarterback is very, very vital. And
then the fact that Zion and Herbert has played together
(11:20):
so long and they've seen different pressures, they've seen different looks,
they've seen different fronts. I think that he'll be able
to step into that position and do a really good job.
And it also creates competition, right, Competition breeds success, and
I think that's the biggest thing Coach Harbaugh wants going
into camps. Competition and that's what it's going to bring.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, and you know, you mentioned the Hardwick Philip Rivers connection,
and then I just kind of think about how special
the you know when Tom tellsco made Corey Lynsley the
highest paige center in the league plucking him in free agency,
and what that meant for justin Herbert happened. You know,
a guy that was in the conversation is the best
center in football, someone who took care of all the protects,
(12:00):
like you said, was able to set things so Herbert
could just drop back and knock it out and that's
like you said, in the case of Zion, Look, we've
talked about it, like what's plagued Zion is you know
the stunts, the twist, the gains that that's you know,
just been a tick. You know, you need it to
be a tick faster, and I think you know the idea.
And look you just said it with center, like you're
(12:22):
responsible for a lot more of that now, Like that's
a lot, right, And so that's sort of the interesting
to me, that's kind of the interesting backstory of them
approaching you know it through Well, let's see if we
can get Zion to play center, because like you said,
he's you don't get drafted seventeenth overall is an interior
alignment unless you're a incredibly athletic b incredibly smart and
(12:43):
see incredibly strong. Like that's how you get drafted in
the first round as a as a and versatile as
as an interior alignment. And that's why really the only
guy that's being discussed and you know, I guess in
the case of Gray's abel he is a tackle, but
he's a guy that can play all five positions because
of his thirty two inch arms. He's kind of being
described as Morvin, but he's really the only guy. You know.
(13:04):
Tyler Booker after the athletic testing, was sort of shoved
out of that first round, like, well, if you're gonna
take a guard, you're you're gonna want them to maybe
test a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yeah, because they're pulling, they're moving. They're not statues right
playing guards. You're pulling, you're moving. It's counters, it's gap scheme,
its own, it's it's a lot people don't understand, Like,
these guys are six three, three hundred plus pounds, but
these guys are very athletic and they're actually doing a
lot of stuff. Get on the perimeter right and take
on safeties, take on you know, cornerbacks who show up
(13:34):
on the edge.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
So you have to be limbo.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
You have to be limber, and you have to be
able to move your feet, have good hips, and have
quick feet. So a lot of times they get the
rap that hey, they're just a big bruiser. But these guys,
with all the different run schemes that the NFL has,
you know, come to in college football has come to.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
These guys have to be able to be very very athletic.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
You mentioned six two six So that's the thing about Gray's.
Abel is six', six six foot six three d so
you could end up having you, know if THAT'S thea
and that's and, look CAN i project him at twenty two?
NOW i think he'll probably get taken for. That he's
just too clean a. Prospect and there's too many teams
that aren't necessarily interested in the you, know home run
(14:14):
in the first. Round they're all about hitting doubles in
the first. Round let's just, hey we can take, those
we can swing for the fences and maybe miss in
the third and the fourth and you, know first, round
don't miss. Man, Yeah AND i think that's Where zabel
kind of comes. In where's he's us he's a double
that could you feel really good about him being a
Double and he certainly could be a home, run especially
(14:37):
if he ends up getting the, center you, know being
talked about as a guy that can end up being
the best center in the league in pretty short. Order
and we know how valuable that. Is SO i just
don't know if he'll be, There but if he, is
that to me makes so much. Sense if because what
did coach talk about? VERSATILITY i have the quote from,
him we have so much versatility now with the inside,
(14:57):
players guys that could play, guard guys that could play.
Center and then he talked About Trey, pipkins, like oh,
Yeah zion goes to, Center trey would probably be the
first guy in line to be that left. Guard and
then you, Know bose becomes a depth piece at that
at that, point which is so And zabel fits. That you,
Know Tyler, booker we talked about. Him he's. Incredible he's
a massive human being and just a road. GRADER A
(15:19):
maller would be fantastic in the run. Game BUT i
think that athleticism and the lack of, versatility to me
kind of signals and it can always be a smoke
screen or, something but it just kind of signals, Like,
yeah they're gonna GO o line in the first. ROUND
i think IT'S i think it's one. NAME i really.
DO i feel like it's it's one, name It's, Zabel
and if he's not, there then it's probably a different.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Position, Yeah and if they go first, round and if,
they excuse, me they go old line in the first,
round that sends shockwaves all ACROSS, la, like, listen this
is What harball believes. In he talked about. It but
not only has he talked about he's put he's put
in his foot right, right one foot after.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Another.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Right he wants to build this team from the trenches on,
out and that's what he believes as the teams that
he had in the, past very very strong offensive lineman
and then he builds around. That so if they go
first round offensive, line especially with the equisitions that they've
made in the off season already with the interior offensive,
line he's sending a whole message to all OF la
AND i, listen we talked about being physical the first.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Year we're really going to show you the second. Year.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
YEAH i was WITH i was with someone last night
and we were chatting and he brought up a really good.
Point he's, like, said you know that the great, coaches
they they have their, identity they preach their, identity but
not all of them are able to. Execute he's, like
and In week, one you guys went out there and
(16:36):
it was it was right in front of. It you're
trailing at the half to The, raiders and, never, never you,
know never get offline from what the plan. Is, hey
we don't make, mistakes we don't commit, penalties we don't
turn the ball. Over we're content to, Punt we're happy
to kick field goals and guess, What eventually we're gonna get.
You and what. Happened eventually they got. Him you, know
(16:58):
that POPPED, jk pops that, run they go up. Nine
they never shoot themselves in the, foot they never, panic
they don't have bad holding OR pi, penalty none of.
It it was just right there In week. One, hey,
guys it's. HALFTIME i wonder What harba's saying at. Halftime we're, Good,
yeah we're, good. Man just keep keep doing what you're
doing and eventually we'll get them to make the mistake
(17:19):
and we'll get the we'll flip the field and we'll
get some some big. Plays and there was THE, jk you,
know and it just set the tone for the rest of.
It just think about that defense all year, long like lights,
out like not a lot of, explosives not you, know
it was just don't mess, up, play you, know do
your job and we'll be. Great, Yeah and it ended
(17:41):
up being you, know AND i think that's and that's
what drafting d lineman and drafting old linemen in the
first round and signing a guy Like Najie harris who
isn't the most splashy or or you, know explosive, back
but you know what you're gonna get if you block, it,
Right he's gonna get you every single yard that you.
Blocked that's just the kind of runner he.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Is AND i was doing some research AND i don't
know IF i got the correct information or, not but
he seems to be a very very durable, back.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
RIGHT i don't think he's missed any. Games, YEAH i
don't think he's missed any.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Games and playing in that division that The pittsburgh still is,
playing how The pittsburgh still his, playoffense how they run the,
ball how it's a physical game Every. Sunday listen to
not miss a game as a running, back you're doing something.
Right you're built, right you're taking care of your. Body
and one thing about, it like you can't make the
club if you're in the.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Tub and this guy is always available On.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Sundays and that's what you got to love about, him his,
durability his, durability and then he has more.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Durability so it's a really good pick.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Up, yeah and again you just you look at the
signings and they're reflective of what the messaging is. Exactly
the messaging isn't bsact to be.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Pretty, no it's not going to be.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Pretty but the thing about, like AND i think the
thing About naji that could be pretty, is you, know
if you are his rookie, year he averaged over four
yards per, carry you, KNOW i know for his career three,
nine but remember his rookie year he Had Ben, roethlisberger
even though you, Know ben was a shell of himself
at that, point at least he was Still Ben. Roethlisberger.
Right since, then you kind of look at the quarterback.
(19:09):
Situation It's Mason rudolph and It's Kenny, pickett and last
year it was a mix Between fields And russell and
the old line fell apart on. Him and it's, like,
yeah just go to that rookie. Year AND i think
that's kind of what you want to point to as all,
right what's Peak, nase what does that look? Like and
that's that's something that can work because every time you
get on the, ball you got to commit resources or
he's going to turn fours into sixes and eights and
(19:32):
now you're really behind the. Sticks and that's how you
set up your play, action and that's how you set
up your shot plays downfield because naj he's moving the
sticks effectively and you're able to grind it. Out AND
i think that's sort of even just that style of
play is something that they preached all last, year, Right
Greg roman talking about we got to Give Justin herbert
(19:53):
a run, game, Man we've got we owe it to this.
Guy that's the best way to make him the best
version of. Himself AND i think what you just mentioned availability,
Consistency you know that that that can trump The, hey let's,
let's you, know take a shot at some of these
explosives in the run. Game let's get said that that's
maybe a little less.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Durable and that's WHAT i meant WHEN i said pretty
is like you're looking for a guy who's a home run.
Hitter But i'm gonna tell you right, now WHEN i
played the game of football right in This National Football
league for a long, time and we let four yards
of pop in the, run we're getting our butt tewed at,
halftime right because four yards of, pop you're not playing
behind the sticks. Anymore right, now it's second and, six
and now this is what we call waist. Downs they
(20:32):
can hit you with, screens they can hit you with,
shots because even if they don't gain anything on second and,
six it's still a manageable third. Down, Right so four
yards of pop is nothing to shake a stick. At that's, good.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Right you want.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
That if you're allowing four yards of pop as a
defense on first, down you are going to have a Long.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Sunday.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Right SO i don't want the fans AND i don't
want people who are charge The nation to overlook and be, like,
hey well that's only four yards of pop and, no
we want Explosive just alluding back to That week one, game,
right four yards of pop is like a heavyweight fight
when you're punching to the, body to the, body to the,
body and then you go to the head after you
wear them, down and then now you're looking at six,
seven and then now you're looking at game breaking.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Touchdowns SO i think that.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Point that you made is, really really, valuable and it's
something that the charging nations should really be appreciative.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Of.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
MAN i don't think it's going to preclude them from drafting.
BACK i, know you know the name Of Marian hampton's
been thrown out there a lot at pick number twenty,
two and people are, like, really take a running back
in the first. Round you just. Shint you, know you
just Signed, Nagy you've got a Sound, Haskins you've got
comanie By. Dell you got so much out OF jk
last year at the. Back and it's like and then you,
(21:38):
know As i'm interacting with some, people they're, like, well
IF i look at THE pff, grades he's a much
better zone runner than a gap. Runner it's, like, well they, remember,
man it's what these guys are asked to. Do they
are operating in an offense where they are asked to
do a certain thing more than they are a certain other.
Thing and you don't know if the oldlignment blocking up
(22:00):
the gap plays as well as they are the. Zone,
yeah don't get.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Me started ON. Pff please don't let, me please.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Don't and, look AND i like. It there's a lot
of stuff they do THAT i really really. Like but
what WHAT i just caution people against is if you
don't AND i don't want this to sound, Condescending that's
not What i'm trying to, Do but if you don't
know how to read the, information you find yourself making
arguments about a six, foot two hundred and twenty pounds
(22:27):
back that's running a four four forty not being a
gap runner. Exacts come, on, man like this this dude is.
It this dude can run between the, tackles punish people
get to the second level and he is, gone.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Right and what you said once, AGAIN pff does a
really good.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Job AND i know a lot of front officers use their,
data you, know to make their, decisions BUT i know
from personal, experiences, right there would be a player who
may have looked like in the game that it was
a cornerback's fault or a safety's fault or a linebacker's.
Fault and then you look at you as, players you
see YOUR pff brade and you, say, well they had
me down for, this and we all know that that
(23:03):
wasn't his, fault but because they thought it was his,
fault his grade drop dropped to a seventy five grade
over the game where it should have been like an eighty. Two,
Right so you got to take those grades with a
grain of. Salt And i'm only saying that BECAUSE i know,
personally LIKE i can count over numerous the times that
we've SEEN pff grades come out after the game and we're,
like what coach just gave? Him a ninety, five like
(23:23):
the coach who knows what's going, on, right who's in,
it knows what scheme of, run and knows what responsibilities it.
Was he gave me ninety, FIVE pff gave him in seventy, three,
Right SO i, mean All i'm saying is taking with
a grain of. Salt really really watched the film see
the value that that player. Brings schematics is a big
part of it as, Well and like you, said you
just never know who's around, him like what, line what
(23:46):
supportive cast does he have that's helping his, game right
or not helping his.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Game so that's that's that's my little ran about.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Exactly that's just AND i don't, mind you, know ASKING
i don't mind asking the, question BUT i think when
you're making declarative statements of, oh he's not a he's
not a gap, runner well maybe. He's maybe he's got
a center that's two hundred and eighty pounds in polls
on every, snap you, know but like just remember and
maybe all the gap plays are short yardage plays and
(24:15):
that's you, know why they're running power or do as
opposed to you, know finding something or seeing something and
calling an audible at the, line and that's why you
end up kind of getting those big breakers on zone,
reads because they see something and they take advantage of.
It LIKE i guess What i'm getting at is If
amari And hampton is there and Perhaps zabel's not, there
(24:36):
and the tackles are off the, board you, know there's
no harm and there's No, nolan there's No grant like, Then,
YEAH i think THAT i think that's a very viable
option and something that they would look at and, say,
man we get six years of control of this guy
who's you, know shown he. Was it's not Like North
carolina had a lot going on last year when you're
(24:57):
With drake may and and that's one, thing but last, year,
no it was completely, different and this dude tore it.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Up, yeah AND i guarantee the game plan Against North
carolina was to stack the box with eight, men like
an eight man, front like one hundred. Percent and then
you look at Like, detroit, right you look at What
Jamiir gibb did and they picked him at number, Thirteen
and a lot of people will, say, Well David montgomery's
not a zone reader a zone, runner, right but he.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Is he does Zone he does.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Gap jamiro does both as, well mostly zone, readers mostly
zone run, schemes but he does both as, well and
he was picked as a top fifteen pick at the
running Back and people don't forget That Jamier gibbs was
At Georgia tech before he went To, alabama where he
only had one really good year to where he was
on the. Map not saying he didn't ball At Georgia,
tech but he got most of his notoriety when he
(25:43):
transferred To alabama for that one. Season so, hey always
keep your eye out man these. Guys i'm a former running,
back SO i always got love.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
For running running.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Backs they try to value, them BUT i still think
they're a good part in the big battle part of the.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Offense AND i understand the argument of you, know if
you don't Get hampton in the first you still have
this is a really deep class And i'm fine with.
That that PART i. Get but at the same, TIME
i think this is a team THAT i firmly believe
is a best player available. TEAM i JUST i really
think they. ARE i think THEY i think they showed
(26:14):
that in Drafting Joe walt at, five AND i think
they had him rated higher than any other player in the.
Draft he was the number one player on their, board
and that's why they were happy to take him at.
Five AND i think they showed that with Ladd is
that they had lad you, know they had him graded
considerably higher than where they were sitting at thirty four
or at thirty. SEVEN i think they were thirty. Seven,
(26:34):
yeah and they were, like, hey, man this guy's whatever,
fifty he's got a first round, grade he's eighteen on our,
board and he's sitting. Here let's go get. Him AND
i think that's sort of just those two. Things and
then talk About Junior, colson you, know taking an off
ball linebacker in the third like it just shows, you, like, yeah, well,
Yeah junior is our highest rate of. Player he's an
(26:57):
off ball. Linebacker we'll figure it, out we'll make it. Work,
well we'll take, him you. Know AND i think that's
that's sort of how this team's going to. Operate so
if A Marian haptain's number one on the, board, Great
if he's, Not i'm looking at this list and, MAN
i can just go straight through it From Travion, henderson
who's a little bit more of that, lightning a little
bit of a, thinner more athletic, back you, know just
(27:18):
still you, know knows how to bring bring the hammer
while also providing the. Lightning you've Got Quinn Seawn. Dunn
you know Quin Shawn, judkins who was the thunder to
his lightning In Ohio. State you know how good he
was through that playoff. Run we've talked About Bayshelle touton
From Virginia tech talked To lanzerline about him at The
combine and he's his favorite back just with how explosive he,
is a home run every time he touches the. Ball Camp, Scataboo,
(27:41):
jordan that's your. Guy that's my, guy that's your. Guy so,
YEAH i, mean and Like i'm listening to To Chris sim's,
talk and you, KNOW i go through Through LANCE'S i
go Through lance's rankings here as he's the guy that
does the. COMBINE i just happen to have it pulled
up from my combine. Notebook he's got our J harvey
as his probably, two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve, fifteen
(28:06):
eighteenth rated back And Chris sims has him number, Two
like and that just goes to show you like running
backs are ice, cream, man if there's different, flavors and
a lot of it depends on what you're, running who
else is in that running back room with, you and
what you're looking.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
For, yeah BUT i totally, Agree and it's just just
that goes a. Show like every front office values different
things about a, player, Right so you can't, say, well
he's valued here and we value.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Him, no it's not like. That everyone has runs different.
Schemes they know what the.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Coach really good front offices know what their coaches won
on the offense and defensive, side and they're not just
going to, say, well this guy runs a four to,
three this guy runs a four to.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Two, no it's more, so how does he fit our?
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Scheme what do our coaches like to, coach what kind of,
player what kind of attributes they want in the?
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Room, Right SO i think that's a really big.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Part, Yeah so that's that's running. Backs what else can
we get to from? That? Owners, MAN i don't even
know HOW i got on the run oh Bell Marty hampton.
Thing The Keenan allen answer when he was asked BY
i Think popa asked him About keenan and How mike you,
know And keenan had a little social media thing you,
know run it back and his answer, was, quote anything
(29:09):
is possible that would be? Cool was was harboss, QUOTE
i look WHAT i love. It, YEAH i don't see.
IT i just. DON'T i Think, Keenan keenan likes, money
AND i just don't think that money's going to be
there where you, know they feel like that's the best
way to maximize money at that, position considering he's just
(29:30):
he's best in the. Slot that's What keenan. Is, Man
he's and guess What ladd is in the. Slot and
so it's JUST i don't quite see that lining up
unless it becomes such a value that you can't ignore, it.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Or If keenan's, like, Hey i'll take a home Hent on. Discount,
Right But, keenan even quietly with The beers last, year
is still putting up crazy, numbers still drawing double. Teams
he still has some of the nastiest. Routes he knows his.
VALUE i Know, keenan he knows his value right at
the end of the. Day he knows he's still one
of the top. Receivers you have to gain plan for, him,
(30:06):
right and he's gonna come to the table like unless
he's made a lot of money in his. Career, Right
so unless he's, Like, HEY i want to come back
TO la you, know my family loves it, HERE i
love the.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Organization i'll take a hometown.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Discount so that's the that's that's the only WAY i
will SEE I.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
I and again IT'S i which pointed that it's not a.
NEGATIVE i JUST i kind of look at where he
is and maybe what he wants and what The chargers
have and what they would, want AND i just don't
quite know if it lines up sort of What i'm getting.
At AND i think the big issue though with The
chargers and the wide receiver position is it's just it's
not it's it's a it's a tricky. Year it's a
real tricky year for wide. Receivers you. Know it's not
(30:41):
like last year where Man lad is the ninth or
the tenth pass catcher taken if you Include bowers in,
there and he's, incredible and so were most of, Them
Brian Thomas, junior And Marvin harrison junior and And Roma
doonzay and neighbors and like they were all good. Man
they all worked out and and and this, year in
talking to people around the, draft that just doesn't feel like.
(31:04):
That it does not feel like you look At golden
And iguca and Bird in And Tea mac is like one,
LIKE i. DON'T i don't think you draft one of
those players and they come in and you're, like, oh,
yeah they're better Than.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Lad, RIGHT i.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
DON'T i don't think any of THEM i agree with,
right and SO i think that's so What i'm doing
is this sort of process of elimination here in the first. Round, Right,
SO i think that would be unless Tem mac, slides
because he'd be such a perfect fit in that room
because of what he does and how that would COMPLIMENT
q And ladd and you'd have that long that young receiver.
Corps outside of, THAT i just don't quite see. IT
(31:39):
i think that's more of a later. Round, let's you,
know see If higgins. Slide so it's WHICH i don't
think is going to. Happen i'm hearing people say that
they think he might sneak into the first round or
a very high second round pick that some you, know
just kind of like what he has to. OFFER i
still get a little nervous about big twelve, receivers but
that's just me star tissue. There SO i think that
gets pushed. Aside tight ends the most interesting, one right
(32:00):
because you sign AND i Like conkland, man And i'm
sure you went back and, watched you, know kind of.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Fire Up congress To Conklinman Central, Michigan, chipwall, Fellow, chipwall
fire up, shit let's.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Go Exactly so you, know, man you know this super.
UNDERRATED i think he was a guy that was a
potential charger a few years ago when they were doing
these one year, deals you, know With, everett With, cook
with those. Guys i'm Sure conklin was already in that.
Conversation so some of the people left over in the
front office that were here Under tom probably had already
(32:31):
done a lot of work on. Him vanity's a little bit,
older BUT i thought he put together a really good
season last. Year AND i think that allows you to
not feel the pressure if you feel like you got
a trade up to Get Colston lovelin to be, like
you know, what we'll be all right With disley And
conchlan this. Year let's let's go ahead and Take AND i,
know you know last week we talked about. It last
time we were, together we were talking about, well we
weren't talking About, yeah we were talking about tight ends
(32:51):
because we didn't Have Tyler conklin. Yet the last time
we were, Together julilie signed like five minutes after we signed.
Off BUT i think what you're what what you're looking
at is NOW i feel a lot more comfortable taking
that second round, guy taking that third round guy and
saying you're good, Man let's give you a. Year we'll
give you a year to. Develop we'll get you with Dish,
off and we'll get you With, sanjay and we're gonna
(33:12):
work with you and just kind of get things. Right
and you don't have to feel pressure to get out
there because your first round Pick Colston lovelin and play you,
know all these snaps and get your hundred targets and
get your seventy catches into hundred.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
Yards, yeah and there these are menu're going, against, Right
so there's a little bit of, that like that that,
uh that curve right coming from. College and, yes you're
going to be the pass the pass catching tight, end
but there's gonna be some. Downs you're gonna be twelve
personnel and you're gonna have they're gonna run zone and
we got to run the ball, right and you got
to cut off the.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Backside so it's.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
LISTEN i Watched conklin play obviously A Central michigan, grad
same university THAT i came from being with The. Jets
very good route, runner reliable, hands he's very.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Productive.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Right so the fact that you did say, that and
you know you can slide right second, round third, round
and you, say, look we still can get the gym
in the second, round third.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Round you just never, know, right this is the. Draft
these guys do their.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
Homework some guys may slip and then you get a
gem who can come in and you. Don't they're not
forced into. Action they can learn how to be a.
Pro they can learn what it means.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
To study the.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Film they can learn about, protections how these defensive ends.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Rush.
Speaker 3 (34:15):
Right SO i think if there's a position that the
chargers feel that they need to address more than that
in the first, round whatever position that may, be, RIGHT
i think that they filled the gaps with distely being
that blocking tight End, conkling you, know being a reliable,
target more reliable target Than herbert had last year at
that position.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Respectively, right you can go in another.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Direction, Yeah AND i think it's funny how it, works
Man like it's so That i've been covering the draft
for fifteen years, now, man you know WHEN i was
doing it FOR Nfl, network and now That i've been
doing it with The, chargers it's it's just. Strange you'll
you'll have like your initial wave and these these talking
(34:56):
points and narratives and storylines of all a, deep tight end, group,
man and then all of a sudden it swings and
people are, like it's not really that. Deep you. KNOW
i dug into the tape AND i. DON'T i think
people are. There they're you, Know Mason taylor's. There there's
just way too much heat on him for what the
production was and A royals an, athlete but again production
then it's like you start pay, oh, fan AND i
(35:16):
know we led the nation and, receiving but he's kind
of squatty AND i don't. Know and then it's like
you just come back to it and you're, like, no
your initial instinct is usually right and it's a really
really good. Group AND i said this earlier this, week,
MAN i going through. IT i went through it pretty.
Deep all weekend. LONG i watched all these. GUYS i
(35:37):
spent freaking. Hours my wife's, like what are you. Doing It's.
Saturday get out of that. Computer you're.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Insurgent you weren't.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Surfing of COURSE i, did of COURSE i, did BUT
i do that. Early i'm done with that by like nine.
Am SO i ended up spending a ton of, time,
Man And i'll tell YOU i fell in love with
a few of these. GUYS i Love Harold fannin From Bowling. Green,
MAN i love, it AND i know you love it,
too because let's go back and let's get the shack
of the. Mac but, yeah So Harold, FANNING i, thought you,
KNOW i went back and watch Some ferguson From, oregon
(36:06):
And i'm watching Even Gunnor, helm who's like projected as
a fifth round or. Something he's making some big plays
For texas on their march to the playoff and you,
know a hope of a national. Championship Mason taylor is so. Smooth,
yeah and just, man his hands are so soft and
you can just see how good that guy's gonna. Be
so it's, like if you don't Get Coaston lovelan Or
(36:27):
Trey warn in the first, round don't freak. OUT i
feel like there's gonna one of those guys is gonna
be at fifty, five AND i wouldn't be surprised if
they focused on that pick a little bit more than
twenty two for that.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Position.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
MINE i gotta say, you you do your due, diligence
you do your. Homework you're spot on.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
RIGHT i, MEAN i was in the shoe store the
other day and the guy came to. Me, MAN i
just love that show with you And. Money you you
Let money know.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
THAT i just love the way he the way he you,
know he dives in deep and so.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Hey i'm going to give you your flowers while you're. Here,
okay if nobody else does, It i'll give you a.
Flowers he does take them.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
All what kind of shoes were you? Getting some nice?
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Rockport they were actually from my. Kids, YEAH i go kids.
FIRST i walk around with some beat up shoes AND
i let the kids be fresh over. Me so they
were fare. Go.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
Yeah WHEN i was a, KID i got Pro. Heads.
Man that was. It you, know IF i was, lucky
Pro heads were like the top of the. Line but,
yeah it was full On. Kmart two for fives, MAN
i REMEMBER i got two for five slipping. SLIDE i Got.
Speaker 3 (37:20):
SCOTTIE i got Some Scottie pippins WHEN i was a
kid AND i. ROLLED i rolled those things into my
front toe came out of the front of. It that
was like the biggest GIFT i got us for my.
Birthday REMEMBER i was like ten years old AND i
was the first, time like my parents started buying me
some nice shoes AND i was just.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Like, MAN i got The Scottie. PIPPINS i wore those
things to the.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
GROUND i remember my FIRST i got the Original Air.
JOY i grew up In, chicago SO i got the
Original Air jordan's when they came, out AND i still
remember it was such a big deal because it's the same.
Deal it's ALL i. Wanted it's, like, hey, man the,
birthday this is it because my birthday's Late, august so
it was right before started the basketball, season so they
had just launched. Them the, red white and. Blacks The
(38:00):
Jordan ones came out AND i was, like that's it
and they were twenty eight, bucks AND i can remember
how big of a deal it. Was it was like
twenty Eight you want a pair of shoes for twenty eight.
Dollars you got to be kidding me right, Now, yeah
not a. Chance and it's like that's ALL i. Want
i'll pay for half of, Them you pay for the other.
Half i'll be my birthday. Present we'll knock it. Out
AND i had My jordan's and that was, like truly
(38:22):
the first pair of nice like high shoes back in
the day in eighty, four eighty five something like. That but,
YEAH i think that's probably. IT i think that's good for.
TODAY i don't think much came out of the owner's
meetings beyond. That from WHAT i, REMEMBER i kind of
wrote down the stuff that jumped out at. Me, yeah
(38:43):
from What harbass. Said, unfortunately he got peppered with questions
from a bunch of kooks that were ask him about
The university Of michigan and The broncos and THE jj
McCarthy and The vikings, media and it's, like, dude go
back to your own table and talk To kevin, O'Connell
some clown asking him about freaking how good is Bo
Nick's how impressed for you with What Sean payton did With?
Bonick shut, Up Sean, Payton.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
He'll tell you we're not talking about over here.
Speaker 1 (39:06):
Exactly So, yeah we'll keep digging, deeper, man because it's
gonna you, know a the smoke string is gonna get
thicker and B i think we'll start to kind of
figure out a little bit more and more as the
as the date draws near The april twenty, fourth first
round of the. Draft is it d, tackle is it the?
End is it tight? End is it running? Back we'll
keep breaking it, down but is it a corner or
(39:27):
is a? Corner we'll. SEE i just feel Like Will johnson.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
Apparent he's not going to Be he's a Top he's
a top ten guy.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Audio, Yeah AND i think then you get To harriston
is really the only other first round grade on a,
Corner AND i just think for this team there's a
little bit of that sort of run, support tackling Turn.
Yeah THAT i think it's like that's he's he's got
great cover, skills he's, instinctive he's you, know good. SIZE
(39:54):
i don't think he's six, foot BUT i just think
you look and you see a lot of that sort
of like you, know funneling guys to the. Corners you
got to be able to tackle. Man AND i think
that's which is. Fine it's just it's a little bit
of a. Concern at twenty, two it's like that's more
that whole we're swinging for a home run, here don't
want to strike. Out we'll get into. That we'll get into,
(40:14):
safeties get into, corners we'll get into all that as
as we. Give we Going, julil but again we appreciate all.
You be sure to, comment like, review all that stuff
goes a long way with, us and we'll be back
again next, week which will Be. Yeah so we're two weeks,
away two weeks away from getting with b roll and
or three weeks, away, sorry three weeks away from three
(40:38):
weeks away from the. Draft why CAN i not figure this?
Out april twenty, Second, yeah so almost three weeks away
from getting our first opportunity of being out at The
bolt and seeing some guys and kind of getting ready
for twenty twenty, Five, Julia so certainly appreciate. It fun
today and we'll be back again next, Week, yes
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Sir thank you money
Late fifteen to ten touched up well, it just had
to be back on another installment of Chargers Weekly, back
with Julil a Die as he is down at the
homestead as am I. The bolt continues as it progresses
(00:22):
toward full operation, as we approach this season's or should
say this upcoming seasons, off season activities, the OTAs, voluntary,
involuntary rookie camp, all that stuff is coming up. And
I got to be honest, Julia, I got the got
the email from our man Brock over it at the
Chargers and he laid out the schedule, and it just
(00:43):
feels kind of something that coach Harbaugh alluded to at
the owners meetings. It's getting closer. You know, you get
you get a date, you can circle that date. We
know what the press conferences are going to be like,
and it just feels like feels like we're getting rolling, man,
Like this thing is getting ready to roll, and we're
gonna have players back at the facility and guys to
talk to.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, it's just alluding back to my plan days. Right
around this time.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
You know the draft's coming, You're getting ready to watch
the draft and see who's getting selected. Is it your position?
Is it not your position? And then right now you're
in the thick of training, you're you're at it. Whoever,
who's your training, whatever facility you're at, you're working out,
you're putting in the work because OTAs is coming up, right,
and you got to show up in shape. Obviously, the
OTA schedule is a little bit more doubt back than
I would say you would do with your personal trainer.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Really, just more you know, getting yourself down in.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
They almost start you all over again to ramp you
back up, because it's a system, right, they want to
start to slow, ramp you up and then get you
into practice. So this is about the time where you know,
as an athlete, this is the time where it's like
we took our vacations, but look, whatever we're doing in
the off season, it's time to start putting that work in.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah, how much you know? I think the big thing too,
And I've said this before on Chargers Weekly. I don't
think it's it bears repeating, but it does bear repeating.
I should say, like you got you got the same
coaches back, man, you know you lost you lost coach O'Leary,
your safety's coach. That was it. Otherwise everybody else is back.
I'm floored that Jesse Minner didn't get head coaching interviews.
(02:06):
Absolutely floored. It's great for the Chargers, and I don't
suspect it'll be that way next year if he does
what I expect him to do. But just how much
of an advantage that is. Where last season you have
an entirely new slate of coaches, every single one of them,
this year, you pretty much have every single coach, like
I said, save safeties coming back.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yeah, it's really important. It's from a coaching standpoint and
a player standpoint. Just splitting from a player standpoint. You know,
you're going into OTAs and you're like, hey, we know
this playbook ready from the back back of our hands.
So now we're not just implementing, you know, the foundation.
We're looking at ways we can tweak it. Ways teams
have beat us, and let's try to run, you know,
different coverages. Let's try to tweak it a little bit
(02:47):
in practice in OTA's and see how it is right,
see how it works.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
If it doesn't work, hey, then we go back to
what it was.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
But when you have so much coaching changes and a
lot of turnover, then you're playing you're almost like babysitting, right.
You're installing fresh lea. You're installing brand new terms, terminologies, techniques.
When you have coach who stay together and players who
they brought back who know the system, you get to
come in day one after working out and getting ready
to you know, for installing the classroom, you get the role.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
You're cooking with hot grease already.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
You know the schedule is first day, I'm doing air quotes, airbuds.
I shouldn't do air quotes. First day is April twenty first,
And a lot of people point to what's participation, who's here,
who's rolling in? How big of a deal is that?
Is it a big deal when you have a lot
more guys at the facility than you don't, I would
assume those guys that aren't there are still getting their
(03:35):
work in wherever they might be.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I mean, most of the time you have about a
ninety percent, you know right where everyone's there. Most of
the times it might be guys who might be just
to be real, guys who are make a little bit
more money.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Guys who might be a.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Higher profile type athlete, higher a profile player on the team,
and they have a specific regimen that they live by,
they die by, and some coaches allow it, some coaches don't.
Some players care, some players don't. Like, Hey, find me.
But I know this is what works. Coach, when I
show up, I'm going to come and shape. From a
player standpoint, you would love to have all your guys there.
Like I said, it's all about chemistry, It's all about communication.
It's all about being in the classroom where we can
(04:07):
take time. We don't have a game, we don't have
to exert all our energy into five to six days.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
We get to take time. Speak about it from our
point of view.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Corners safety speak about it from their point of view,
Offensive line over protections, talk to Herbert about.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Hey, what do they see? What does he see?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
So to have everybody in the building is ideal? Right,
does it happen all the time? No, But I definitely
think having everybody there is and doesn't pay a big factor.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah. I mentioned the twenty first, so I'm looking at
it now. The email that our man Brock sent out
for media availability. So the twenty second, that's Tuesday, be
able to be there. So maybe we shift the little
Chargers weekly that day to do it on the twenty
second instead that'll be at Tuesday instead of a Thursday,
and then the following Monday, same deal. You end up
getting the new safety's coach. I mentioned there was only
one change, so Adam Fuller going to be made available
(04:53):
to us, And I appreciate that about coach Harbaugh. Not
every head coach's comfortable letting assistance chat with the media,
and last year allowed all those guys a media session.
I think it showcases their football knowledge, their personality, you know,
their history with the game. You get guys like Mike
Elston and Andy Bischoff that maybe people don't know that
(05:14):
have been around for so long. It just had you know,
coach dev on the old line and hearing about him
being the offensive lineman of the year when he was
at Iowa as a player, Like just it's great. It's
a great opportunity to kind of put a story, a
backstory with a name, so you know, you know, like
Clink is one of my favorite guys as you know
him well, Julie ov being out there as a coach
during training camp with the defensive backs, but like just
(05:36):
really good dudes. And I'm anxious to meet the newest one,
Adam Fuller. So that's kind of what the schedule is
in between that. Of course, we've got the preview of
the draft the week before the draft on April seventeenth.
We have the actual day one of the draft the
twenty fourth. Both coach Harbaugh and general manager Joe Ortie
is going to be available for each of those sessions.
So they'll do a presser after day one, after day two,
(05:58):
and after day three rec happen their picks, and that
seems to be the event that we're all pointed to her.
But before we get to that, tell me you think
big deal? Not big deal? And what do you expect?
There's one person that I'm wondering if he's going to
show up on April twenty first and twenty second, and
that's Rashaan Slater. And is I know those two sides
(06:20):
are trying to get this thing hammered out. I don't know.
I shouldn't say I know. I'm pretty sure there's communication
between the two sides. But how big of a deal
do you think, because you kind of know how this
organization operates, Julia, And we saw Derwin get his deal
a little bit later in camp, we saw Joey Bosa
get his deal a little bit later in the summer.
(06:41):
Just kind of your idea about is it a big deal?
Is it not a big deal If they can't get
this thing knocked out before this little wave of a
voluntary sort of participation rolls around.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I think that just goes you know that It all
matters on what's being said behind the scene, right, What
are they're telling this agent, What are they telling Slater, Hey, like, hey,
we're gonna get it done. We want you here in
the building. Like you said, you alluded to Durwin James.
He's an example. We got him done. He showed up,
he did the right thing. He was there, he was
in attendance, right. Just knowing racheon Slater's personality, I think
he shows up. Don't don't quote me, but I think
(07:15):
he shows up. I think he, you know, goes to work.
But I will say, if you show up and you're
waiting to get on getting a deal, I don't know
if you're going to those workouts and you're not running,
you're not cutting, you're not planting. You may be in
the meetings, right, you may be in the meetings going
over protections, maybe just around the building for chemistry.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
But if he does show up.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I definitely con bet my bottom dollar he's not working
on until he signs that extension.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
And I think the thing to remember with that particular
extension is, you know, that's the prism, you know, from
which you need to view it through, is Drwin Joey.
It's it's gonna be, you know, the conversation is gonna
be making him the highest paid offensive lineman in the league.
I mean, like that's the sort of thing that they're
kicking around. And that's why it took a while for Derwin,
you know, when he did his Remember, the big hang
(07:58):
up was, well, we don't want to be the paid safety.
Durwin's not a safety. Derwin's a defensive weapon and a leader,
and you need to kind of make this in line
with that a little bit more than just making them
the highest paid safety. And they did the same thing
with Joey, you know, and so those things tend to
take a bit longer, and it's not necessarily because the
team is reluctant to hand over all the money. But
(08:21):
you've done a big money deal, Juliel with with Ed maguire.
You know how good he is at it and how
he wants to structure these things to try to give that,
and I think that's what people forget, right. It's just
the flexibility that they're trying to build into this deal
and figure out how they want to lay out each
annual you know, salary year, bonus and all of those things.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, I totally agree with to When I was going
back to my deal, there was a certain time, you know,
we would make and they would make an offer, we
would counter right, and then we're They'll say, well, okay,
well we can we can push his money towards the
back of the last two years, or we can you know,
we can hide some of that money and to sign
a bonus. So obviously I didn't make and I didn't
sign a contract that Rason Slater is going to sign.
So there's a lot of moving pieces that have to
(08:59):
be made, right, then numbers have to make sense for
both parties. I do think they're going to get the
deal done, but like you said, it's a lot of
moving pieces and how.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
They want to structure it. The biggest thing is how
do you want to structure it? Right? And I think
that's the reason why we have a hold up here.
But I know it will get done.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, And I like I set the tone with that
just because it's sort of the latest news that we
have is these dates and who's going to be around
and select Charger players. It'd be great to talk to
Rashaan about getting that contract squared away at that point,
and Herbert, you know, might chat a little bit. No
doubt he'll want to celebrate that as Rashawn's one of
the the you know, the guys he's closest with on
the team and obviously perhaps the most important player on
(09:34):
the team, protecting his blindside. But it also rolls into
the comments that were made down in Orlando from coach Harbaugh,
and a lot of it centered around the offensive line
because that seems to be the one position group that
is garnering the most attention, I think rightfully. So you know,
going into free agency, going through the draft process, and
I think you can take a lot away from what
(09:55):
coach said. Number one, that McKay beck then's going to
play right guard. That you know, he talked about how
he visualized he and Joe Alt and what that and
something we talked about, you know what but that's going
to look like, and how excited he is about that prospect.
And then he kind of I don't want to say
double down, but he was, you know, very upfront about yes,
(10:17):
Zion is going to get reps at center. Zion is
like it wasn't just oh, he's got a shot to
be the center. I think the way that I interpreted,
you know, the delivery in that answer about Zion is
we'd like him to be our starting center like that,
if he can pull this off, that's what we think
is going to be best for us in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah, And that just goes to show you the flexibility
and the versatility of Zion. Right.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
He's obviously a really good guard, first round draft pick, strong,
one of the most physical, like built guys I've seen
around put together. And that just goes to show because
one thing about being the center, you and not only
have to know the protections right, You got to be
on the same accord as a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
You got to see the same way that the quarterbacks seeing.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I remember when I was playing, Nick Hardwick and Philip
Rivers playing together and they're speaking the same language. Sometimes
Phillip's called out the protections and sometimes Nick Harwick, I'm blitz,
I'm in the a gap and Nic will override him
and say no where sliding left, and Philip goes with it,
knowing that the play clock is coming down and he
has to get the ball off. So the chemistry between
the center and the quarterback is very, very vital. And
then the fact that Zion and Herbert has played together
(11:20):
so long and they've seen different pressures, they've seen different looks,
they've seen different fronts. I think that he'll be able
to step into that position and do a really good job.
And it also creates competition, right, Competition breeds success, and
I think that's the biggest thing Coach Harbaugh wants going
into camps. Competition and that's what it's going to bring.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, and you know, you mentioned the Hardwick Philip Rivers connection,
and then I just kind of think about how special
the you know when Tom tellsco made Corey Lynsley the
highest paige center in the league plucking him in free agency,
and what that meant for justin Herbert happened. You know,
a guy that was in the conversation is the best
center in football, someone who took care of all the protects,
(12:00):
like you said, was able to set things so Herbert
could just drop back and knock it out and that's
like you said, in the case of Zion, Look, we've
talked about it, like what's plagued Zion is you know
the stunts, the twist, the gains that that's you know,
just been a tick. You know, you need it to
be a tick faster, and I think you know the idea.
And look you just said it with center, like you're
(12:22):
responsible for a lot more of that now, Like that's
a lot, right, And so that's sort of the interesting
to me, that's kind of the interesting backstory of them
approaching you know it through Well, let's see if we
can get Zion to play center, because like you said,
he's you don't get drafted seventeenth overall is an interior
alignment unless you're a incredibly athletic b incredibly smart and
(12:43):
see incredibly strong. Like that's how you get drafted in
the first round as a as a and versatile as
as an interior alignment. And that's why really the only
guy that's being discussed and you know, I guess in
the case of Gray's abel he is a tackle, but
he's a guy that can play all five positions because
of his thirty two inch arms. He's kind of being
described as Morvin, but he's really the only guy. You know.
(13:04):
Tyler Booker after the athletic testing, was sort of shoved
out of that first round, like, well, if you're gonna
take a guard, you're you're gonna want them to maybe
test a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yeah, because they're pulling, they're moving. They're not statues right
playing guards. You're pulling, you're moving. It's counters, it's gap scheme,
its own, it's it's a lot people don't understand, Like,
these guys are six three, three hundred plus pounds, but
these guys are very athletic and they're actually doing a
lot of stuff. Get on the perimeter right and take
on safeties, take on you know, cornerbacks who show up
(13:34):
on the edge.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
So you have to be limbo.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
You have to be limber, and you have to be
able to move your feet, have good hips, and have
quick feet. So a lot of times they get the
rap that hey, they're just a big bruiser. But these guys,
with all the different run schemes that the NFL has,
you know, come to in college football has come to.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
These guys have to be able to be very very athletic.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
You mentioned six two six So that's the thing about Gray's.
Abel is six', six six foot six three d so
you could end up having you, know if THAT'S thea
and that's and, look CAN i project him at twenty two?
NOW i think he'll probably get taken for. That he's
just too clean a. Prospect and there's too many teams
that aren't necessarily interested in the you, know home run
(14:14):
in the first. Round they're all about hitting doubles in
the first. Round let's just, hey we can take, those
we can swing for the fences and maybe miss in
the third and the fourth and you, know first, round
don't miss. Man, Yeah AND i think that's Where zabel
kind of comes. In where's he's us he's a double
that could you feel really good about him being a
Double and he certainly could be a home, run especially
(14:37):
if he ends up getting the, center you, know being
talked about as a guy that can end up being
the best center in the league in pretty short. Order
and we know how valuable that. Is SO i just
don't know if he'll be, There but if he, is
that to me makes so much. Sense if because what
did coach talk about? VERSATILITY i have the quote from,
him we have so much versatility now with the inside,
(14:57):
players guys that could play, guard guys that could play.
Center and then he talked About Trey, pipkins, like oh,
Yeah zion goes to, Center trey would probably be the
first guy in line to be that left. Guard and
then you, Know bose becomes a depth piece at that
at that, point which is so And zabel fits. That you,
Know Tyler, booker we talked about. Him he's. Incredible he's
a massive human being and just a road. GRADER A
(15:19):
maller would be fantastic in the run. Game BUT i
think that athleticism and the lack of, versatility to me
kind of signals and it can always be a smoke
screen or, something but it just kind of signals, Like,
yeah they're gonna GO o line in the first. ROUND
i think IT'S i think it's one. NAME i really.
DO i feel like it's it's one, name It's, Zabel
and if he's not, there then it's probably a different.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Position, Yeah and if they go first, round and if,
they excuse, me they go old line in the first,
round that sends shockwaves all ACROSS, la, like, listen this
is What harball believes. In he talked about. It but
not only has he talked about he's put he's put
in his foot right, right one foot after.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Another.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Right he wants to build this team from the trenches on,
out and that's what he believes as the teams that
he had in the, past very very strong offensive lineman
and then he builds around. That so if they go
first round offensive, line especially with the equisitions that they've
made in the off season already with the interior offensive,
line he's sending a whole message to all OF la
AND i, listen we talked about being physical the first.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Year we're really going to show you the second. Year.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
YEAH i was WITH i was with someone last night
and we were chatting and he brought up a really good.
Point he's, like, said you know that the great, coaches
they they have their, identity they preach their, identity but
not all of them are able to. Execute he's, like
and In week, one you guys went out there and
(16:36):
it was it was right in front of. It you're
trailing at the half to The, raiders and, never, never you,
know never get offline from what the plan. Is, hey
we don't make, mistakes we don't commit, penalties we don't
turn the ball. Over we're content to, Punt we're happy
to kick field goals and guess, What eventually we're gonna get.
You and what. Happened eventually they got. Him you, know
(16:58):
that POPPED, jk pops that, run they go up. Nine
they never shoot themselves in the, foot they never, panic
they don't have bad holding OR pi, penalty none of.
It it was just right there In week. One, hey,
guys it's. HALFTIME i wonder What harba's saying at. Halftime we're, Good,
yeah we're, good. Man just keep keep doing what you're
doing and eventually we'll get them to make the mistake
(17:19):
and we'll get the we'll flip the field and we'll
get some some big. Plays and there was THE, jk you,
know and it just set the tone for the rest of.
It just think about that defense all year, long like lights,
out like not a lot of, explosives not you, know
it was just don't mess, up, play you, know do
your job and we'll be. Great, Yeah and it ended
(17:41):
up being you, know AND i think that's and that's
what drafting d lineman and drafting old linemen in the
first round and signing a guy Like Najie harris who
isn't the most splashy or or you, know explosive, back
but you know what you're gonna get if you block, it,
Right he's gonna get you every single yard that you.
Blocked that's just the kind of runner he.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Is AND i was doing some research AND i don't
know IF i got the correct information or, not but
he seems to be a very very durable, back.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
RIGHT i don't think he's missed any. Games, YEAH i
don't think he's missed any.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Games and playing in that division that The pittsburgh still is,
playing how The pittsburgh still his, playoffense how they run the,
ball how it's a physical game Every. Sunday listen to
not miss a game as a running, back you're doing something.
Right you're built, right you're taking care of your. Body
and one thing about, it like you can't make the
club if you're in the.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Tub and this guy is always available On.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Sundays and that's what you got to love about, him his,
durability his, durability and then he has more.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Durability so it's a really good pick.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Up, yeah and again you just you look at the
signings and they're reflective of what the messaging is. Exactly
the messaging isn't bsact to be.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Pretty, no it's not going to be.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Pretty but the thing about, like AND i think the
thing About naji that could be pretty, is you, know
if you are his rookie, year he averaged over four
yards per, carry you, KNOW i know for his career three,
nine but remember his rookie year he Had Ben, roethlisberger
even though you, Know ben was a shell of himself
at that, point at least he was Still Ben. Roethlisberger.
Right since, then you kind of look at the quarterback.
(19:09):
Situation It's Mason rudolph and It's Kenny, pickett and last
year it was a mix Between fields And russell and
the old line fell apart on. Him and it's, like,
yeah just go to that rookie. Year AND i think
that's kind of what you want to point to as all,
right what's Peak, nase what does that look? Like and
that's that's something that can work because every time you
get on the, ball you got to commit resources or
he's going to turn fours into sixes and eights and
(19:32):
now you're really behind the. Sticks and that's how you
set up your play, action and that's how you set
up your shot plays downfield because naj he's moving the
sticks effectively and you're able to grind it. Out AND
i think that's sort of even just that style of
play is something that they preached all last, year, Right
Greg roman talking about we got to Give Justin herbert
(19:53):
a run, game, Man we've got we owe it to this.
Guy that's the best way to make him the best
version of. Himself AND i think what you just mentioned availability,
Consistency you know that that that can trump The, hey let's,
let's you, know take a shot at some of these
explosives in the run. Game let's get said that that's
maybe a little less.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Durable and that's WHAT i meant WHEN i said pretty
is like you're looking for a guy who's a home run.
Hitter But i'm gonna tell you right, now WHEN i
played the game of football right in This National Football
league for a long, time and we let four yards
of pop in the, run we're getting our butt tewed at,
halftime right because four yards of, pop you're not playing
behind the sticks. Anymore right, now it's second and, six
and now this is what we call waist. Downs they
(20:32):
can hit you with, screens they can hit you with,
shots because even if they don't gain anything on second and,
six it's still a manageable third. Down, Right so four
yards of pop is nothing to shake a stick. At that's, good.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Right you want.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
That if you're allowing four yards of pop as a
defense on first, down you are going to have a Long.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Sunday.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Right SO i don't want the fans AND i don't
want people who are charge The nation to overlook and be, like,
hey well that's only four yards of pop and, no
we want Explosive just alluding back to That week one, game,
right four yards of pop is like a heavyweight fight
when you're punching to the, body to the, body to the,
body and then you go to the head after you
wear them, down and then now you're looking at six,
seven and then now you're looking at game breaking.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Touchdowns SO i think that.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Point that you made is, really really, valuable and it's
something that the charging nations should really be appreciative.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Of.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
MAN i don't think it's going to preclude them from drafting.
BACK i, know you know the name Of Marian hampton's
been thrown out there a lot at pick number twenty,
two and people are, like, really take a running back
in the first. Round you just. Shint you, know you
just Signed, Nagy you've got a Sound, Haskins you've got
comanie By. Dell you got so much out OF jk
last year at the. Back and it's like and then you,
(21:38):
know As i'm interacting with some, people they're, like, well
IF i look at THE pff, grades he's a much
better zone runner than a gap. Runner it's, like, well they, remember,
man it's what these guys are asked to. Do they
are operating in an offense where they are asked to
do a certain thing more than they are a certain other.
Thing and you don't know if the oldlignment blocking up
(22:00):
the gap plays as well as they are the. Zone,
yeah don't get.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Me started ON. Pff please don't let, me please.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Don't and, look AND i like. It there's a lot
of stuff they do THAT i really really. Like but
what WHAT i just caution people against is if you
don't AND i don't want this to sound, Condescending that's
not What i'm trying to, Do but if you don't
know how to read the, information you find yourself making
arguments about a six, foot two hundred and twenty pounds
(22:27):
back that's running a four four forty not being a
gap runner. Exacts come, on, man like this this dude is.
It this dude can run between the, tackles punish people
get to the second level and he is, gone.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Right and what you said once, AGAIN pff does a
really good.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Job AND i know a lot of front officers use their,
data you, know to make their, decisions BUT i know
from personal, experiences, right there would be a player who
may have looked like in the game that it was
a cornerback's fault or a safety's fault or a linebacker's.
Fault and then you look at you as, players you
see YOUR pff brade and you, say, well they had
me down for, this and we all know that that
(23:03):
wasn't his, fault but because they thought it was his,
fault his grade drop dropped to a seventy five grade
over the game where it should have been like an eighty. Two,
Right so you got to take those grades with a
grain of. Salt And i'm only saying that BECAUSE i know,
personally LIKE i can count over numerous the times that
we've SEEN pff grades come out after the game and we're,
like what coach just gave? Him a ninety, five like
(23:23):
the coach who knows what's going, on, right who's in,
it knows what scheme of, run and knows what responsibilities it.
Was he gave me ninety, FIVE pff gave him in seventy, three,
Right SO i, mean All i'm saying is taking with
a grain of. Salt really really watched the film see
the value that that player. Brings schematics is a big
part of it as, Well and like you, said you
just never know who's around, him like what, line what
(23:46):
supportive cast does he have that's helping his, game right
or not helping his.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Game so that's that's that's my little ran about.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Exactly that's just AND i don't, mind you, know ASKING
i don't mind asking the, question BUT i think when
you're making declarative statements of, oh he's not a he's
not a gap, runner well maybe. He's maybe he's got
a center that's two hundred and eighty pounds in polls
on every, snap you, know but like just remember and
maybe all the gap plays are short yardage plays and
(24:15):
that's you, know why they're running power or do as
opposed to you, know finding something or seeing something and
calling an audible at the, line and that's why you
end up kind of getting those big breakers on zone,
reads because they see something and they take advantage of.
It LIKE i guess What i'm getting at is If
amari And hampton is there and Perhaps zabel's not, there
(24:36):
and the tackles are off the, board you, know there's
no harm and there's No, nolan there's No grant like, Then,
YEAH i think THAT i think that's a very viable
option and something that they would look at and, say,
man we get six years of control of this guy
who's you, know shown he. Was it's not Like North
carolina had a lot going on last year when you're
(24:57):
With drake may and and that's one, thing but last, year,
no it was completely, different and this dude tore it.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Up, yeah AND i guarantee the game plan Against North
carolina was to stack the box with eight, men like
an eight man, front like one hundred. Percent and then
you look at Like, detroit, right you look at What
Jamiir gibb did and they picked him at number, Thirteen
and a lot of people will, say, Well David montgomery's
not a zone reader a zone, runner, right but he.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Is he does Zone he does.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Gap jamiro does both as, well mostly zone, readers mostly
zone run, schemes but he does both as, well and
he was picked as a top fifteen pick at the
running Back and people don't forget That Jamier gibbs was
At Georgia tech before he went To, alabama where he
only had one really good year to where he was
on the. Map not saying he didn't ball At Georgia,
tech but he got most of his notoriety when he
(25:43):
transferred To alabama for that one. Season so, hey always
keep your eye out man these. Guys i'm a former running,
back SO i always got love.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
For running running.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Backs they try to value, them BUT i still think
they're a good part in the big battle part of the.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Offense AND i understand the argument of you, know if
you don't Get hampton in the first you still have
this is a really deep class And i'm fine with.
That that PART i. Get but at the same, TIME
i think this is a team THAT i firmly believe
is a best player available. TEAM i JUST i really
think they. ARE i think THEY i think they showed
(26:14):
that in Drafting Joe walt at, five AND i think
they had him rated higher than any other player in the.
Draft he was the number one player on their, board
and that's why they were happy to take him at.
Five AND i think they showed that with Ladd is
that they had lad you, know they had him graded
considerably higher than where they were sitting at thirty four
or at thirty. SEVEN i think they were thirty. Seven,
(26:34):
yeah and they were, like, hey, man this guy's whatever,
fifty he's got a first round, grade he's eighteen on our,
board and he's sitting. Here let's go get. Him AND
i think that's sort of just those two. Things and
then talk About Junior, colson you, know taking an off
ball linebacker in the third like it just shows, you, like, yeah, well,
Yeah junior is our highest rate of. Player he's an
(26:57):
off ball. Linebacker we'll figure it, out we'll make it. Work,
well we'll take, him you. Know AND i think that's
that's sort of how this team's going to. Operate so
if A Marian haptain's number one on the, board, Great
if he's, Not i'm looking at this list and, MAN
i can just go straight through it From Travion, henderson
who's a little bit more of that, lightning a little
bit of a, thinner more athletic, back you, know just
(27:18):
still you, know knows how to bring bring the hammer
while also providing the. Lightning you've Got Quinn Seawn. Dunn
you know Quin Shawn, judkins who was the thunder to
his lightning In Ohio. State you know how good he
was through that playoff. Run we've talked About Bayshelle touton
From Virginia tech talked To lanzerline about him at The
combine and he's his favorite back just with how explosive he,
is a home run every time he touches the. Ball Camp, Scataboo,
(27:41):
jordan that's your. Guy that's my, guy that's your. Guy so,
YEAH i, mean and Like i'm listening to To Chris sim's,
talk and you, KNOW i go through Through LANCE'S i
go Through lance's rankings here as he's the guy that
does the. COMBINE i just happen to have it pulled
up from my combine. Notebook he's got our J harvey
as his probably, two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve, fifteen
(28:06):
eighteenth rated back And Chris sims has him number, Two
like and that just goes to show you like running
backs are ice, cream, man if there's different, flavors and
a lot of it depends on what you're, running who
else is in that running back room with, you and
what you're looking.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
For, yeah BUT i totally, Agree and it's just just
that goes a. Show like every front office values different
things about a, player, Right so you can't, say, well
he's valued here and we value.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Him, no it's not like. That everyone has runs different.
Schemes they know what the.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Coach really good front offices know what their coaches won
on the offense and defensive, side and they're not just
going to, say, well this guy runs a four to,
three this guy runs a four to.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Two, no it's more, so how does he fit our?
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Scheme what do our coaches like to, coach what kind of,
player what kind of attributes they want in the?
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Room, Right SO i think that's a really big.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Part, Yeah so that's that's running. Backs what else can
we get to from? That? Owners, MAN i don't even
know HOW i got on the run oh Bell Marty hampton.
Thing The Keenan allen answer when he was asked BY
i Think popa asked him About keenan and How mike you,
know And keenan had a little social media thing you,
know run it back and his answer, was, quote anything
(29:09):
is possible that would be? Cool was was harboss, QUOTE
i look WHAT i love. It, YEAH i don't see.
IT i just. DON'T i Think, Keenan keenan likes, money
AND i just don't think that money's going to be
there where you, know they feel like that's the best
way to maximize money at that, position considering he's just
(29:30):
he's best in the. Slot that's What keenan. Is, Man
he's and guess What ladd is in the. Slot and
so it's JUST i don't quite see that lining up
unless it becomes such a value that you can't ignore, it.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Or If keenan's, like, Hey i'll take a home Hent on. Discount,
Right But, keenan even quietly with The beers last, year
is still putting up crazy, numbers still drawing double. Teams
he still has some of the nastiest. Routes he knows his.
VALUE i Know, keenan he knows his value right at
the end of the. Day he knows he's still one
of the top. Receivers you have to gain plan for, him,
(30:06):
right and he's gonna come to the table like unless
he's made a lot of money in his. Career, Right
so unless he's, Like, HEY i want to come back
TO la you, know my family loves it, HERE i
love the.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Organization i'll take a hometown.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Discount so that's the that's that's the only WAY i
will SEE I.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
I and again IT'S i which pointed that it's not a.
NEGATIVE i JUST i kind of look at where he
is and maybe what he wants and what The chargers
have and what they would, want AND i just don't
quite know if it lines up sort of What i'm getting.
At AND i think the big issue though with The
chargers and the wide receiver position is it's just it's
not it's it's a it's a tricky. Year it's a
real tricky year for wide. Receivers you. Know it's not
(30:41):
like last year where Man lad is the ninth or
the tenth pass catcher taken if you Include bowers in,
there and he's, incredible and so were most of, Them
Brian Thomas, junior And Marvin harrison junior and And Roma
doonzay and neighbors and like they were all good. Man
they all worked out and and and this, year in
talking to people around the, draft that just doesn't feel like.
(31:04):
That it does not feel like you look At golden
And iguca and Bird in And Tea mac is like one,
LIKE i. DON'T i don't think you draft one of
those players and they come in and you're, like, oh,
yeah they're better Than.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Lad, RIGHT i.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
DON'T i don't think any of THEM i agree with,
right and SO i think that's so What i'm doing
is this sort of process of elimination here in the first. Round, Right,
SO i think that would be unless Tem mac, slides
because he'd be such a perfect fit in that room
because of what he does and how that would COMPLIMENT
q And ladd and you'd have that long that young receiver.
Corps outside of, THAT i just don't quite see. IT
(31:39):
i think that's more of a later. Round, let's you,
know see If higgins. Slide so it's WHICH i don't
think is going to. Happen i'm hearing people say that
they think he might sneak into the first round or
a very high second round pick that some you, know
just kind of like what he has to. OFFER i
still get a little nervous about big twelve, receivers but
that's just me star tissue. There SO i think that
gets pushed. Aside tight ends the most interesting, one right
(32:00):
because you sign AND i Like conkland, man And i'm
sure you went back and, watched you, know kind of.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Fire Up congress To Conklinman Central, Michigan, chipwall, Fellow, chipwall
fire up, shit let's.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Go Exactly so you, know, man you know this super.
UNDERRATED i think he was a guy that was a
potential charger a few years ago when they were doing
these one year, deals you, know With, everett With, cook
with those. Guys i'm Sure conklin was already in that.
Conversation so some of the people left over in the
front office that were here Under tom probably had already
(32:31):
done a lot of work on. Him vanity's a little bit,
older BUT i thought he put together a really good
season last. Year AND i think that allows you to
not feel the pressure if you feel like you got
a trade up to Get Colston lovelin to be, like
you know, what we'll be all right With disley And
conchlan this. Year let's let's go ahead and Take AND i,
know you know last week we talked about. It last
time we were, together we were talking about, well we
weren't talking About, yeah we were talking about tight ends
(32:51):
because we didn't Have Tyler conklin. Yet the last time
we were, Together julilie signed like five minutes after we signed.
Off BUT i think what you're what what you're looking
at is NOW i feel a lot more comfortable taking
that second round, guy taking that third round guy and
saying you're good, Man let's give you a. Year we'll
give you a year to. Develop we'll get you with Dish,
off and we'll get you With, sanjay and we're gonna
(33:12):
work with you and just kind of get things. Right
and you don't have to feel pressure to get out
there because your first round Pick Colston lovelin and play you,
know all these snaps and get your hundred targets and
get your seventy catches into hundred.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
Yards, yeah and there these are menu're going, against, Right
so there's a little bit of, that like that that,
uh that curve right coming from. College and, yes you're
going to be the pass the pass catching tight, end
but there's gonna be some. Downs you're gonna be twelve
personnel and you're gonna have they're gonna run zone and
we got to run the ball, right and you got
to cut off the.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Backside so it's.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
LISTEN i Watched conklin play obviously A Central michigan, grad
same university THAT i came from being with The. Jets
very good route, runner reliable, hands he's very.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Productive.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Right so the fact that you did say, that and
you know you can slide right second, round third, round
and you, say, look we still can get the gym
in the second, round third.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Round you just never, know, right this is the. Draft
these guys do their.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
Homework some guys may slip and then you get a
gem who can come in and you. Don't they're not
forced into. Action they can learn how to be a.
Pro they can learn what it means.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
To study the.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Film they can learn about, protections how these defensive ends.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Rush.
Speaker 3 (34:15):
Right SO i think if there's a position that the
chargers feel that they need to address more than that
in the first, round whatever position that may, be, RIGHT
i think that they filled the gaps with distely being
that blocking tight End, conkling you, know being a reliable,
target more reliable target Than herbert had last year at
that position.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Respectively, right you can go in another.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Direction, Yeah AND i think it's funny how it, works
Man like it's so That i've been covering the draft
for fifteen years, now, man you know WHEN i was
doing it FOR Nfl, network and now That i've been
doing it with The, chargers it's it's just. Strange you'll
you'll have like your initial wave and these these talking
(34:56):
points and narratives and storylines of all a, deep tight end, group,
man and then all of a sudden it swings and
people are, like it's not really that. Deep you. KNOW
i dug into the tape AND i. DON'T i think
people are. There they're you, Know Mason taylor's. There there's
just way too much heat on him for what the
production was and A royals an, athlete but again production
then it's like you start pay, oh, fan AND i
(35:16):
know we led the nation and, receiving but he's kind
of squatty AND i don't. Know and then it's like
you just come back to it and you're, like, no
your initial instinct is usually right and it's a really
really good. Group AND i said this earlier this, week,
MAN i going through. IT i went through it pretty.
Deep all weekend. LONG i watched all these. GUYS i
(35:37):
spent freaking. Hours my wife's, like what are you. Doing It's.
Saturday get out of that. Computer you're.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Insurgent you weren't.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Surfing of COURSE i, did of COURSE i, did BUT
i do that. Early i'm done with that by like nine.
Am SO i ended up spending a ton of, time,
Man And i'll tell YOU i fell in love with
a few of these. GUYS i Love Harold fannin From Bowling. Green,
MAN i love, it AND i know you love it,
too because let's go back and let's get the shack
of the. Mac but, yeah So Harold, FANNING i, thought you,
KNOW i went back and watch Some ferguson From, oregon
(36:06):
And i'm watching Even Gunnor, helm who's like projected as
a fifth round or. Something he's making some big plays
For texas on their march to the playoff and you,
know a hope of a national. Championship Mason taylor is so. Smooth,
yeah and just, man his hands are so soft and
you can just see how good that guy's gonna. Be
so it's, like if you don't Get Coaston lovelan Or
(36:27):
Trey warn in the first, round don't freak. OUT i
feel like there's gonna one of those guys is gonna
be at fifty, five AND i wouldn't be surprised if
they focused on that pick a little bit more than
twenty two for that.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Position.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
MINE i gotta say, you you do your due, diligence
you do your. Homework you're spot on.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
RIGHT i, MEAN i was in the shoe store the
other day and the guy came to. Me, MAN i
just love that show with you And. Money you you
Let money know.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
THAT i just love the way he the way he you,
know he dives in deep and so.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Hey i'm going to give you your flowers while you're. Here,
okay if nobody else does, It i'll give you a.
Flowers he does take them.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
All what kind of shoes were you? Getting some nice?
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Rockport they were actually from my. Kids, YEAH i go kids.
FIRST i walk around with some beat up shoes AND
i let the kids be fresh over. Me so they
were fare. Go.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
Yeah WHEN i was a, KID i got Pro. Heads.
Man that was. It you, know IF i was, lucky
Pro heads were like the top of the. Line but,
yeah it was full On. Kmart two for fives, MAN
i REMEMBER i got two for five slipping. SLIDE i Got.
Speaker 3 (37:20):
SCOTTIE i got Some Scottie pippins WHEN i was a
kid AND i. ROLLED i rolled those things into my
front toe came out of the front of. It that
was like the biggest GIFT i got us for my.
Birthday REMEMBER i was like ten years old AND i
was the first, time like my parents started buying me
some nice shoes AND i was just.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Like, MAN i got The Scottie. PIPPINS i wore those
things to the.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
GROUND i remember my FIRST i got the Original Air.
JOY i grew up In, chicago SO i got the
Original Air jordan's when they came, out AND i still
remember it was such a big deal because it's the same.
Deal it's ALL i. Wanted it's, like, hey, man the,
birthday this is it because my birthday's Late, august so
it was right before started the basketball, season so they
had just launched. Them the, red white and. Blacks The
(38:00):
Jordan ones came out AND i was, like that's it
and they were twenty eight, bucks AND i can remember
how big of a deal it. Was it was like
twenty Eight you want a pair of shoes for twenty eight.
Dollars you got to be kidding me right, Now, yeah
not a. Chance and it's like that's ALL i. Want
i'll pay for half of, Them you pay for the other.
Half i'll be my birthday. Present we'll knock it. Out
AND i had My jordan's and that was, like truly
(38:22):
the first pair of nice like high shoes back in
the day in eighty, four eighty five something like. That but,
YEAH i think that's probably. IT i think that's good for.
TODAY i don't think much came out of the owner's
meetings beyond. That from WHAT i, REMEMBER i kind of
wrote down the stuff that jumped out at. Me, yeah
(38:43):
from What harbass. Said, unfortunately he got peppered with questions
from a bunch of kooks that were ask him about
The university Of michigan and The broncos and THE jj
McCarthy and The vikings, media and it's, like, dude go
back to your own table and talk To kevin, O'Connell
some clown asking him about freaking how good is Bo
Nick's how impressed for you with What Sean payton did With?
Bonick shut, Up Sean, Payton.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
He'll tell you we're not talking about over here.
Speaker 1 (39:06):
Exactly So, yeah we'll keep digging, deeper, man because it's
gonna you, know a the smoke string is gonna get
thicker and B i think we'll start to kind of
figure out a little bit more and more as the
as the date draws near The april twenty, fourth first
round of the. Draft is it d, tackle is it the?
End is it tight? End is it running? Back we'll
keep breaking it, down but is it a corner or
(39:27):
is a? Corner we'll. SEE i just feel Like Will johnson.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
Apparent he's not going to Be he's a Top he's
a top ten guy.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Audio, Yeah AND i think then you get To harriston
is really the only other first round grade on a,
Corner AND i just think for this team there's a
little bit of that sort of run, support tackling Turn.
Yeah THAT i think it's like that's he's he's got
great cover, skills he's, instinctive he's you, know good. SIZE
(39:54):
i don't think he's six, foot BUT i just think
you look and you see a lot of that sort
of like you, know funneling guys to the. Corners you
got to be able to tackle. Man AND i think
that's which is. Fine it's just it's a little bit
of a. Concern at twenty, two it's like that's more
that whole we're swinging for a home run, here don't
want to strike. Out we'll get into. That we'll get into,
(40:14):
safeties get into, corners we'll get into all that as
as we. Give we Going, julil but again we appreciate all.
You be sure to, comment like, review all that stuff
goes a long way with, us and we'll be back
again next, week which will Be. Yeah so we're two weeks,
away two weeks away from getting with b roll and
or three weeks, away, sorry three weeks away from three
(40:38):
weeks away from the. Draft why CAN i not figure this?
Out april twenty, Second, yeah so almost three weeks away
from getting our first opportunity of being out at The
bolt and seeing some guys and kind of getting ready
for twenty twenty, Five, Julia so certainly appreciate. It fun
today and we'll be back again next, Week, yes
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Sir thank you money
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