September 3, 2025 • 38 mins
It’s officially game week as we kick off three days of Colts centric content with our guest from [Colts.com](http://colts.com/), J.J. Stankevitz. He’ll break down the decision to start Daniel Jones, how this Colts secondary was formulated around Lou Anarumo’s vision, and what he thinks the Colts have to do to win Sunday.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Drivetime with Travis Wingfield. What is up, Dolphans
and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast. I am your host,
Travis Wingfield. On today's show, It's that time once again.
(00:20):
We've got our Colts dot Com guest, JJ Stankovitz. We've
got a game to pick. TNF is tomorrow, Friday Night
Football on Friday. We'll also go ahead and talk about
one bold prediction I'm gonna make that came from the
idea for a bold prediction segment and then turned into
a long research segment, if you will. We'll talk about
(00:40):
that from the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health
Training Complex. This is the Draft Time Podcast, Maye Gaffe.
Let's go ahead and welcome in my guest today from
Colts dot Com. Jjstankovitz joining me today is the voice
for all things Indianapolis Colts on Colts dot Com and
also the Stadium pa is JJ Steakovitz and JJ. I
(01:02):
don't think I was privy to this last time we
did this. Your your job title as the PA. I'm
super curious how that fits into your game day workload.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
And also welcome into the show, my friend.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah. Well, first of all, thanks having on Travis.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
It's great to be talking ball ahead of a game
that actually matters. But yeah, for everyone listening to this
or watching this, that annoying voice you're gonna hear yelling
about it being third down in the stadium is me.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
That it makes for interesting game days.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Right where Like, I'm still the team writer, I still
have a lot of other duties to do, but from
five hours before kickoff until right at the end of
the game, my job is to be.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
The stadiumpa announcer.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
And then as soon as the game ends, I go
right back to being the team writer and I run
down to the locker room to go talk to guys
and you know, produce articles for Colts dot com and
all that. But I gotta say it's a it's an
honor to be able to do it. This is gonna
be my fourth season as the Colt Stadium PA anouncer.
It is a ton of fun and Colts fans are
some of the best in the league. Where I always
(02:06):
joke I don't really have to do a whole lot
theready know what to do, you know, Peyton Manning the
trade him pretty well shut up on offense and be
loud on defense, So I'm just the guy who's just,
you know, hollering in the background.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
That's funny, man.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
The old days at the RCA Dome like that place,
you could hear a pin drop when Peyton Manning was
operating the offense down the field. So you're right about that.
They certainly know what they're supposed to be doing. And
you know it's funny because I do the gateloop here
at hard Rock Stadium. That's a pre recorded segment that
I did years ago, and end of the day, I
pulled up for a tea time at the golf course
and the guys like, hey, I went to the Miami
Nor Dame game and I heard you on there. I'm like,
what are you doing here? I'm like, yeah, it's one
(02:39):
of my many jobs. So the more we can do, right, JJ,
that's kind of the the the more you can do exactly.
Let's go ahead and get into this game preview here
and start with the quarterback position. JJ's I'm sure you've
been asked about this by anybody and everyone that's interviewed
you so far this offseason. And you know, one of
my favorite camp storylines that that seems to kind of
be a thing of the past is quarterback competitions like
they're kind of rare these days. He did have one
(03:00):
in Indianapolis this year. In your opinion, what did Daniel
Jones do to separate himself and win the NOD for Sunday, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Travis, it really just came down to consistency. That's the
word that Chainstyken has used quite a bit, dating all
the way back to the NFL Owners' meetings in March.
He was talking about consistency and needing consistency from the
quarterback position that goes in the operation of the offense,
So getting the team into the right play calls, into
the right looks, and then completing passes. Obviously, you know,
(03:27):
we all know Anthony Richardson completed under fifty percent of
his passes last year. Daniel Jones in his career was
at sixty four point one percent, and during training camp
it played out that way. Daniel Jones did complete more
of his passes in training camp. No, Anthony Richardson made strides, certainly,
but at the end of the day, what Shane stike
In values here is that down to down consistency. So
(03:49):
I pulled some of these numbers, Travis for an article
I wrote on Colts dot Com that went up last week.
The Colts last year had the tenth most plays in
the NFL that went for negative or zero yards on
first down. They the seventh most incompletions on first down,
despite being twenty first in total first down passing attempts.
So like when they drop back to pass, there were
(04:09):
too many incompletions and that leaves you at second and
ten right, and on second and ten the Colts averaged
a league low three point four yards per play, so
they had a ton of trouble in those situations and
really across all obvious passing downs last year. So I
think what Stichen's looking at with this offense is, hey,
if we can just be on schedule. That doesn't mean
(04:31):
we need an explosive on first down, But if we
can just get five or six yards with a checkdown
or a quick little outlet to Tyler Warren and then
we get second in four, the menu that he can
operate off of there is so different than second and ten.
So I think that's kind of the goal for this offense.
The Colts still want to be explosive, and they believe
(04:51):
Daniel Jones can do that, but that's not where Daniel
Jones game is centered on, is being explosive. If the
Colts can get that kind of efficiency that they're looking for,
that will be a success for this offense out of
Daniel Jones. And that really goes for early downs specifically.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Yeah, you pretty much described the Broncos offense with bow
Knicks last year where it was kind of screen game,
run game, get to second and manageable, then let him
go make plays from that point forward.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
And it makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
And you know, stichens like Sean Payton, one of these
these brilliant offensive minds that has put together game plans
for years of really getting more out of his the
team or some of the parts, I should say, in
terms of the production.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
And I guess I'll follow up to.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
That answer with this question about how does the offense
change considering Anthony Richardson versus Daniel Jones, Because like, we
have a game tape last year the Dolphins playing against
ar but they don't have a game tape against you know,
Daniel Jones.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
How does the offense change when it comes to those
two quarterbacks?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
I mean, look, the cult are not going to lean
into running plays with Anthony Richard with Daniel Jones as
they would have with Anthony Richardson, having said that Daniel
Jones is a good runner. If you look at some
of his numbers on early downs, he's right up there
with the best running quarterbacks in the league, Lamar Jackson,
Josh Allen, Kyler, Murray Fields like he's in that same
ballpark since he joined the NFL, just in terms of
(06:04):
some of the efficiency numbers. So you've got that aspect
of your offense still. But I had a chance to
sit down with Daniel for a podcast this week and
he was like, look, I'm going to give it to
the professional running back and Jonathan Taylor and compliment is
what I'm going to do there. So the offense will
change a little bit with that, and you're not going
to see the Colts try to build the whole plane
(06:26):
out of explosives like they did try to do a
little bit with Anthony Richardson last year. But they can
run a similar style of offense, and that's something that
the Colts have lacked over the last two years. Where
when Anthony Richardson went down in twenty twenty three, Gardner
Minshew was a capable backup, but he was not going
to run the ball like Anthony richards and you could
(06:47):
not put that on his plate. And then they went
to Joe Flacco last year, who you definitely couldn't put
that on his plate. So the offense, I think, you know,
it's not going to be the same, but it'll it'll
you know, you'll be living on the same street with
Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. I do have to say
that game last year was a that was not Anthony
Richardson at his best. He was coming off the injury.
(07:09):
He looked a little bit rusty in that game, and
the Colts weren't able totally lean into the things they
wanted to do. Now, give Anthony Weaver credit and that
defense for you know, kind of forcing that. But I
think the offense you'll see on Sunday will be different
than the one you saw with Richardson, just based on
kind of that one factor. But it's going to be
(07:31):
again on the same street as the offense they've run
with Anthony Richardson over the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I'm glad you mentioned the Daniel Jones as a runner
factor because even if he's not ripping off, you know,
twenty yard runs and running guys over like maybe Richardson could.
The ability to threaten that backside edge, you know, off
of play action and RPO and stuff like that, that's
enough to hold a defender, which is all you need sometimes.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
So and that, by the way, Travis is huge for
the Colts running game, right. They struggled at times without
Anthony Richardson in there because of that ability to pin
guys down on the back side. It opened up lanes
for Jonathan Taylor that didn't exist when you had Flacco
or Minshew back there. That those will exist with Daniel
Jones there.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah, I can alter the way you call your your
secondary too, and who comes down and fits the run
from the back end of the defense And you know,
kind of continuing on that line of thinking the offensive roster,
there's recognizable names all over this screw. But I think
the two biggest questions that fans would have or folks
would have coming into the game is looking at the
replacements of.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Will free Fries and Ryan Kelly.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Right, So I'm curious what you can tell us they
played last year, But what can you tell us about
Tanner Bordolini and Matt Gonsalvez.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Did I get that name right?
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Nailed it?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, let's go.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Most people who aren't in Indianapolis get that name wrong.
So Shot, You've done your research.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
There track Thank you, man, I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
You know, the cults like both of those guys. Bordolini
is a very athletic center. You look at them of
as combine testing numbers, and they look I'm not saying
this is a comparison really, but they compare favorably to
Jason Kelce in terms of the short shuttle and some
of those things that you look at for offensive line.
He played a couple of games last year, like you said,
(09:03):
and you know, the Colts like where he's at. He
pretty quickly won a competition with Danny Pinter, who's kind
of a long time back up here during training camp
Mac Gonzalveez at right guard. You're right, he hadn't played
guard outside of one snap really in his life. He
was a tackle at Pitt He was a tackle last year.
He is kind of the swing tackle backing up Bernard
(09:25):
Ryman and Braden Smith, and the Colts have kicked him inside.
They like his physicality. I think in the run game,
He's going to be an immediate impact guy there in
the passing game. He's got to get more reps there.
That's why you saw him play in the third preseason game.
He was the only started or play in that game
for the Colts against the Bengals. And I think he's
(09:45):
going to continue to grow into that role. The thing
that the Colts really believe in, though, beyond those two
players and the talent they have, is they believe in
Tony Sperano, Junior, their third year offensive line coach. The
development that he kind of helped foster from Bernard Ryman
and Will Fryes. Don't take it from me, take it
from the one hundred and eighty eight million dollars those
(10:07):
two guys got in contracts recently over the last couple
of months. So those guys went from you know, fries
was literally the last pick the Colts had in the
twenty twenty one draft, and Bernard Ryman was a Day
two draft picks, a third rounder, and he was the
second of two third rounders the Colts had that year.
You don't just find starting left tackles in the third round.
(10:28):
That is very hard to do. So for Tony Sprano,
Junior to develop those two guys, and the Colts are
looking at it and saying, we got guys in Bordolini
and Gonzalez who we like, and we really like our
offensive line coach, and he's already done this. So I
think all those things together are going to lead you
to believe these guys are going to be good. I
think the Colts have earned the benefit of the doubt
(10:49):
when it comes to putting younger offensive linemen in their lineup.
Having said that Week one is going to probably be
different than Week eight and Week sixteen when it comes
to those guys playing cohesively. You know, I'm sure you
know Anthony Weaver's probably going to throw stuff at them
to try to confuse them and say, those are the
two guys we are going to go pick on, which
(11:09):
I think most defensive coordinators will do. But I think
they'll grow into it, and I think they've got the
right coaching in place certainly to help them do that.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
See, this is why we have JJ on the show,
because you're basically talking taking a page out of the
Drive Time playbook. These are things I've talked about on
the show for weeks leading up to this game. So far,
so really good stuff all around. I have one more
offensive question for You'll take a break and then come
back into the defense on the other side. If you
had to choose one eligible from this Colts roster not
named Jonathan Taylor for a fancy football team, who's that
(11:39):
going to be across the receivers, tight ends, and backs?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Not jt Though, not only do you one? Only one?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Okay, that's a problem because you guys have so many,
Like it's almost like a.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Denser room than it is top heavy, right right.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
This is a very deep room.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
It maybe doesn't have that established number one. Like my
heart wants to tell you to go Tyler Warren because
I think he's going to get a lot of you, sage.
But the smart pick here would be Josh Downs. Josh
Downs is a really freaking good receiver. He is like
when you talk about like being a quarterback's best friend,
he is a quarterback's best friend in terms of his
(12:12):
ability to get open and within the timing of plays,
work into space, and he doesn't drop anything. He's got
yack ability, he's he's got some downfield juice to him.
Even though he's maybe a smaller guy, you know, he's
He's a guy who I would not be surprised at
the end of the year if he leads a deep
(12:33):
receiver room in targets and catches this year and potentially
even yards like that. That is the kind of player
he is. The Colts believe a lot in his upside,
and if you turn on the film, you're going to
see a guy who quarterbacks really trust and that is
that goes such a long way when the bullets are
flying and you've got a third and six and you
(12:55):
know who am I throwing this ball to? Number one
on the Colts is going to get a lot of
those targets.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Again, that was my number two and three options behind
JT in terms of guys to game plan for my
preview podcasts as well. So you're right online there once again, JJ,
Let's go ahead and take a break right here, come
back on the other side and discuss this Colts defense
here on the Draft Time podcast my guest today, JJ
Stankovitz from the Indianapolis Colts or from Colts dot Com.
I should say Draft Time Podcasts brought to you by Autoonation.
(13:22):
Back here with my guest today from Colts dot Com,
JJ Stankovitz, talking about this coltson Dolphins Week one match up,
a preview for the kickoff of football in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
I cannot wait for it.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
And jjflipping over to the defense here, I want to
ask you what is kind of a threefold question about
some newcomers here, and it's lou Anararumo, former Dolphins coach
Cam bind Them and Tarvarius Ward. And to me, all
of those moves come from a singular vision of how
this defense wants to play right, And I'm curious to
your opinion is that an accurate assessment? Even if you
(13:52):
could perfect great, So then to follow up, if you
could educate our fans on what that is, that would
also be great. Well.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
So your fans might be familiar a little bit with
how Louannarumo played his defense with the Cincinnati Bengals over
the last couple of years, and know there was only
that one game against Miami. I think that was the
one where two ahead the concussion, so you didn't really
get maybe the full scope of what lou is going
to do.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
In that game.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
But for us here in Indianapolis, the excitement around Louannarumo
is that he's building this thing from the back to
the front, and it starts in the secondary. And that's
why the Colts went out and spent a lot of
money to get Tarvarius Ward and cam Binam. Speaking on
those two guys, what they bring to this defense. Ward
brings your traveling with the best receiver, lockdown corner. So
(14:38):
I mean, look with the Dolphins, right, you got Hill
and Waddle, who's he going to travel with? Is he
going to travel because you have those two guys. But
what that allows louannar Rumo to say, Okay, hey, maybe
we can lock the backside of this play and I
can do some funky stuff over here with the other guys.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
But he can only do that funky stuff if.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
He is cam Binam as kind of the command center
in the back end of his defense. If you look
at those Bengals defenses, they fell off under lou Aennarumo,
and I don't think it's a it's a coincidence that
they fell off when they no longer had Jesse Bates
and Von Bell, two veterans who are extremely smart. Cam
Binam was like, I listened to The Athletic Football Show
(15:14):
a lot, and like, right from the jump, they're like
one of our favorite fits in free agency. Before free
agency was cam Binam going to the Colts because of
what he can bring to a lou Anarumo defense, so
his ability to kind of be that shape shifting safety
in the back end to confuse you. I was talking
to Michael Pittman Junior about this recently, where he was like,
(15:34):
the first week of training camp, I had no idea
what we were running in the back end because he
was like, pre snap, you think it's two or four,
and then they transition into something else, and as you're
running across the field, you're like, well, why is he
doing that? That doesn't make any sense. And he's like,
it is so hard to play against these guys because
you just don't know what they're going to do. And
a lot of that goes to Cambinam in the back end.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Yeah, I think that.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
You know, you mentioned the Colts losing or not the Colts,
the Bengals losing Bell and Baits like those guys replaced
with rookies and young players, and I kind of felt
like lou had to almost fall on that sword for
that reason, and here the Colts are the beneficiary of that.
So I wrote my preview podcasts. That was the best
move the Colts made all off season was getting lou
n a Rumo.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So excited to.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
See what he can do, maybe not in Week one,
but beyond this, beyond the Week one game, what he
does the rest of the way. I have two more
questions for you here, JJ. This one focuses on the
front seven of the Colts defense, which, by the way,
another interesting aspect of this game is the Colts defense
kind of built back to front, Dolphins defense kind of
front to back, so two different ways to skin a
cat there. But up front, I'm curious how this pass
rush looks to you because I was a huge Layatu
(16:37):
Latou fan coming out of college. There's some quality depth
out there as well, and Grover Stewart and to Forest
Buckner are two of my favorites as well. What can
you tell us about this front seven heading into the opener?
Speaker 3 (16:47):
It's very deep.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
It's kind of like the wide receiver room a little
bit in that it's deep, but there's not a like
a superstar. I mean, I think to Forrest Buckner is
one of the best defensive players in the NFL, but
he's not like a ten SAT guy at this point
in his career, so he's not getting maybe the national
attention of you know, some other folks in there. But
this this front, I look at it and I go,
(17:10):
that's a good front. The thing that could take them
to being a great front is if layout Tu Latu
takes that step, that year one to year two step
where you know last year he would he would throw
a move and he wasn't able to counter it super quickly.
So if he was, you know, gonna throw kind of
a speed rush and he got set for a speed rush,
he wasn't able to transition speed to power as quickly.
(17:33):
Just based on the reps and kind of learning NFL
offensive tackles. I talked to DeForest Buckner about Lattu last
week and he was like, the speed with which he
is now throwing that second move. If okay, this one
didn't work, Bam, get to the other one. He's like,
that's the jump he's made in year one to year two.
He's got to be able to finish. He's got to
be able to make those moves count by getting to
(17:54):
the quarterback and getting the quarterback to the ground. But
if he's able to be a a game wrecker off
the edge, who you have to. Like our radio analyst
Rick Vanterios talks about ambient players where if you're opposing
offensive coordinator, you got to take an ambien to go
to sleep because of that guy, because he's gonna give
you nightmares. If lat two can turn into that guy,
(18:16):
this defense could could be really, really good.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
I talked about it on my podcast.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
I think they could be a top five defense if
you get twelve sacks out of Layatu Latu and what
they can do in the back end. So but if
he doesn't take that step and say they just have
a bunch of guys who are getting eight nine sacks
like they did in twenty twenty three, that still is
a good front. And if you can stop the run
on early downs with Buckner and Stewart in the middle,
maybe a little bit better depth of defensive tackle than
(18:42):
the Colts savan in years past. And then Zion Franklin
who's led the NFL and tackles set franchise records for tackles.
He's a really good player at linebacker. This could be
a good front. I think again, like if wat Tu
takes that step though, and we see it like right
from the jump, I think you might be sitting here
in week three or for being like this Colts defense
is a chance to be really good this year.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yep, I could see it again, hopefully not week one.
But for you guys, a lot of potentis I want
to upside after that for you guys looking forward to Man,
I'll close this episode the way I do every single
kind of Cross Enemy Lines episode. The Colts win this
game if and then that's up to you to fill
in the blank.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
The Colts win this game if they are able to.
I mean, I just I want to say, just like,
look like a functional offense. I think they will. So
let me let me put it this one. The Colts
will be able to win this game if Dan if
Anthony Weaver has to respect Daniel Jones' ability to throw
the ball downfield. If because I think this is what
(19:39):
opposing defensive coordinators are going to do to the Colts
earlier in the season, is they're going to say, we
are not going to let Jonathan Taylor beat us. We
are going to compress things twenty yards from the line
of scrimmage, and if Daniel Jones can beat us downfield,
then we adjust.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
That's what it's going to be.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I mean, Daniel Jones, over the course of his career
in New York has not been a deep ball thrower. However,
when I brought that up to him last week, he
kind of bristled at it. He was like, yeah, I
hear that from literally everyone in like almost this kind
of annoyed tone. I think the Colts are going to
try to do that. Like I just talked about how
they want to, you know, keep everything on schedule. But
(20:16):
it's a lot easier to do that if you can
kind of relieve some of the pressure on those short
and intermediate throws. So if Daniel Jones can connect on
a deep ball or even just threaten it to an
Alec Pierce to and ad Mitchell to Josh Downs in
one of those situations, and you've got to maybe back
off a little bit as a defense. That's where I
(20:36):
think the Colts will get an advantage in this game
if things get compressed and you start looking at Okay,
we're trying to stay on schedule. But now it's third
and seven and here comes this funky pressure package from
Anthony Weaver, who is, as you guys know, is great
at those sim pressures and fire zones. That's where it
could get a little challenging for the Colts. I think defensively,
(20:57):
make sure that you don't get gashed over and over again,
which is I'm sure you hear that from like literally
everyone you talk to.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
But try to keep a lid on things.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Don't let hill or waddle get downfield, don't let eight
chan hit a crease and get sixty yards. Just try
to keep it, you know, everything in front of you,
and then get into those third and long situations if
you can. And that's when Louanna remote can really cook
out there. So those are kind of two things that
I'm looking at. You know, it's not really rocket science
to be like the team that's going to get a
(21:27):
bunch of explosives and then limit explosives might win the game.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
But I think in this game specifically, that's what I'm
looking for.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Football is a very simple, you have very complex game
at the same time.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
That's why we love it so much.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
He is at JJ Stankovitz on X, the host of
the Flagship podcast on Colts dot Com and the STADIUMPA.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I hope you don't have too many.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Third down calls for us come Sunday, JJ, but thank
you for your time. Man, it was a blast and
we appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Appreciated Travis always good talking ball with you.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And away he goes, and on.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
We roll into segment two and we've got football coming
up in about twenty four maybe a little bit more
hours based upon when you hear this podcast. But it's Wednesday,
and tomorrow the NFL season begins and it's not a
fun matchup. Probably one of the worst matchups of the
weekend if you asked me, if you heard the Predictions podcast,
we have the Eagles rolling back to an NFC East
(22:13):
title and the Cowboys falling back to six and eleven.
So what am I going to predict for the opening
night game in Philly as they unveil their second ring
in franchise history against their most hated rival who just
traded away their best player and the vibes are probably
at an all time low. I'm going to take the
Philadelphia Eagles in an absolute romp.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I just.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Man, I get it that like money rules all and
we put you know, big market teams and teams that
have these massive followings and these primetime slots, and you're
never going to get away from that. I mean, the
Giants have dominated primetime slots. The Chicago Bears have dominated
primetime slots over the last forever. I mean really, but
in the last you know, five or six years, both
those teams have been four and five win teams, and
(22:57):
yet we get them four or five times in the
primetime slots, and usually early in the season to negate
the fact that they're gonna have four and ten records
later on and you can't put them in primetime in
those spots. So the early season primetime schedule suffers as
a result of that. And we're getting that right away
from jump. This is a game that's supposed to be
Chiefs and Ravens, right. I usually am not crazy about,
(23:19):
like the biggest game of the year being Week one.
I think it's kind of a feel out week and
if you can survive with a victory, it's a good thing,
no matter who you play or how you play. But
we can do better than this, right That's just my
take on that Cowboys are gonna be a tough watch
this year, and.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Putting them in this spot against the Eagles.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
When the Eagles playing the Commanders this year, you know
they could have put them in that spot they.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Play who is at the Lions right.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
I don't know if it's a real game or a
home game, but they're playing all the division champs because
they finished first in their division. I just think we
could have done much better. But I'm taking the Eagles
over the Cowboys in that spot. I'm taking the Chiefs
over the Chargers, and that one I cannot wait to watch.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
You know, people tweet about.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
This and talk about the I'm a huge hate watcher,
by the way, watching Bill Belichick go down in competition
and get absolutely drubbed by the TCU Horned Frogs, Don
Shula would never But as far as hate watches like,
I like watching the Jets lose. I like watching the
Bills lose. I like watching Herbert throw four picks in
the playoff game.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
You like that, I like that, like Kirk cousins Man.
So I think I'm taking the Chiefs in this one
in Brazil, and the Chargers get off to a rough
start without a player that would equate to them the
way I think if Tyreek Hill is still in his prime,
we're gonna find out about that here very shortly. The
way losing a Tyreek Hill for this offense has been
in the past I think that's how big the Rashawn
(24:42):
Slater loss is. So I think the Chargers are gonna
lose a lot more games that would have been close
that they could have possibly won, like the games they
won last year that was a close, close game victory
Haven were the Chargers last year against bad teams. I
think that a loss like Slater changes that and especially
puts you in front of a seventeen game schedule where
you know, one more loss if Joe allt goes down
(25:02):
or if Trey Pipkins goes down, they're already deep into
that rotation. And I just think that building the team
to the offensive line and losing the top guy on
that line before the season starts, Man, that's a big loss.
And I think the Chiefs will do what they always
do and start off hot Andy Reid. You know, first
game of the season typically cooks up some new stuff.
Give me the Chiefs big over the Chargers there in
(25:24):
Brazil in Week one. Let's go ahead and take our
last break right there. Come back on the other side.
I'm excited about this segment. I kind of it evolved
as I wrote it down on paper. We'll talk about
my biggest bold take for twenty twenty five with the
Byami Dolphins Is Concerned. That's Next Draft Time podcast, brought
to you by AutoNation, our last segment on a Wednesday
(25:46):
ahead of a brand new episode of South Park. I
believe America's game debuts tonight and then you've got TV
on your football like pretty much every day from now
until in New Year's and that's not the case. I mean, hey,
what by our time?
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Then?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
Like December when you get like NFL on Thursday and
Saturday and college games mixed in and bowl season, like
that is the best time of year, right, And I'm
so excited about just this time of year in general
because all the holidays are coming up in football is here,
and it's just there's just always something to do when
you're a diehard football fan. When the calendar turned September
(26:21):
and we freaking made it everybody, So I am fired up.
I cannot wait. I think on Friday, I'm gonna I'm
so excited for that Chiefs in Chargers game.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I just talked about it.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I think I'm gonna take my daughter and son to
indoor mini golf and then go get dairy queen and
then come home and watch them football like boom, What
a perfect Friday night that's gonna be. So I had
this segment queued up to be a list of bold predictions,
and I couldn't come up with one beyond the one
that inspired the segment idea. And then I wound up
(26:50):
getting deep into the weeds on this one thing and decided,
let's just research this and go heavy on this one
take and focus on the single bold take. So if
you heard my Tuesday podcast, my bold take is this.
If you heard the Tuesday podcast, I have Mike McDaniel
winning Coach of the Year this year. And if you
(27:10):
missed that episode, it boiled down to this because a
lot of you're turning off your radio dials right now
because you're mad about Mike McDaniel and this team right now.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Which, by the way, Pro Football Talk twenty ninth in
the power rankings.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Get out of here, man, what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (27:23):
What do we not?
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Come on? Bro?
Speaker 1 (27:27):
My god, my own. But anyway, it boiled down to this.
I think this team's gonna win double digit games this year,
provided the quarterback is healthy.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
And again, if you can if.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
You don't think that's the case, I'm not going to
argue with you on that you've got four years of
evidence versus one year of evidence. To my contrary, I
do think this team wins double digit games with a
healthy quarterback. And I'll explain to you why I think
that he can replicate what he did in twenty twenty
three here in just a moment. So from jump, healthy quarterback,
team wins double digit games. And if this team wins
ten plus games, given the prison exception of where they
(28:00):
are right now, twenty ninth and a freaking power ranking,
then that's the definition of the Coach of the Year award, right,
which I think is inherently flawed. Like the coach of
the year to me should be the one that wins
the Super Bowl, you.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Know, speaking of b to ble to check.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
How did be a band of check not win a
single Coach of the year during their like Patriots run
right like what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (28:19):
You know?
Speaker 2 (28:20):
But I but I digress. So here's my take.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
The inherently flawed Coach of the Year award will go
to the team that it surpasses expectations as the feel
good story of the year, and I think that's the
Miami Dolphins this year.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
But the bold take.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Is this.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
You ready?
Speaker 1 (28:37):
It is more likely that the Dolphins start the season
seven and one than it is a coaching change happens
mid season, And there's a lot of layers to that.
I think the only way this team does not start
hot is if something happens to the quarterback. And again
history tells you that that's well within the realm of possibility.
(29:00):
It might even be more than a possibility, it might
be a probability. And last year when he came back,
I told y'all I did not see a reform player
based in his press conference engagement, based upon the way
he played the game. Quite the opposite, actually, But now
I do think he understands the risk and the risk
management factor of all this and how all that plays
(29:21):
into his decision making on critical third and fourth downs.
Now we're gonna have to see that first big down, right,
the first third down in the fourth quarter in a
tight game.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
What does he do?
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Does he commit to his training to protect himself or
does that go out the window in search of making
the game changing play? And I struggle with what I
prefer him to do in those situations. I think, before
it's December, to me, throw it all the way out
the window. Just don't even like I'll take a loss
to the Carolina Panthers if it means I have two
of for the next four games, because last year we
could have lost that Buffalo game and it would have
(29:52):
sucked for a week. But if I had two against Seattle, Tennessee,
New England and Indianapolis, we're five to one. And I'll
fight anybody about that discussion. And I'll tell you what
here in just one second now, late in the season,
go ahead and go for it, because I'd rather, you know,
we can't, you know, protect ourselves and must win games
down the stretch. But anyway, I do think he's learned
(30:15):
how to do his part to keep himself healthy, and
that's really all this needed, because he's always adept at
getting the football out and avoiding those big blind side
shots that cost him sands. You know, twenty twenty one
when the famous puts some respect on Jesse Davis's name game,
but he stays up right that way. He's taken some
weird hits in the pocket, but doesn't really that's not
usually what gets him injured, right, It's just the it's
(30:38):
the way he runs himself into trouble. Like even at
Alabama when he had that tightrope surgery and he kind
of favored that ankle leaving the pocket and that's kind
of what forced the move to reduce the impact of
going down to the ground on that ankle, and he
took it to the hip like a freaking car accident.
We saw it in the I mean the Green Bay concussion.
(30:58):
You know, that was an instance of getting you know,
whip back on the back of his head, which is
a continuation of the Bengals game previously, so it's it's
never been and then the Houston game last year, like
diving for a first down. It's never been about like
him taking these ordinary shots. It's when he does extra
that puts himself in harm's ways. So I think, I think,
and we'll find out when he plays a game that
he's learned to not do that. And then that brings
(31:20):
us up to the schedule here, to the first eight
games of the season, and guys, I'm gonna point at
Pete here once again because this is one of my
biggest arguments I have to make every year, it feels
like and it's just based on being online too much,
like being on Twitter and seeing too many comments from
too many people that quite frankly just it shouldn't matter
to me, but it does. But you guys, know, do
(31:41):
you know Tua's record in games in which the Dolphins
were favored, because I always see the comment you know
they're gonna lose games that they're supposed to win. Really, really,
you sure put up you're sure about That's why because
last year in twenty two twenty four, the Dolphins were
five and one in games started by Tua in which
(32:04):
they were favorites. The one loss was the Cardinals game.
In twenty twenty three, they were favored in eleven to
two of games. They were ten to one in those games,
the Titans being the one game they lost. In twenty two,
they were six and one in games started by two
a Tongua bai Loa in which they were favored at kickoff,
the Packers game being the only loss. In twenty twenty one,
(32:25):
they were five and one in such games, the loss
being the Jaguars. And in twenty twenty just five games
of these instances, but he was four and one starting
against teams that he was favored to beat. That's thirty
and five in his career. That's twenty one in three
since twenty twenty two, when his career actually began, when
the head coach wasn't texting him threatening things before the game. Right,
(32:48):
So again, I say, if he's available, we beat the teams.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
We should.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
The proof was in the putting my friends, and I
think by the time the game kicks off against the Colts,
we will be favored. I don't I still don't understand
that line. I think it's gonna move because the lines
move with public betting. I think the money, you know,
sixty seven percent right now is in the Dolphins as
I speak on Tuesday. That's going to continue to push
that line closer towards Dolphins favorites. I believe we'll see
that come Sunday. So I think that'll be the case
(33:16):
in six of the first eight games. The Chargers game
is the one that I'm not sure, and I think
we're gonna have to see how the first four or
five games go before we get a number on that game.
But you know we'll be dogs against the Bills, right,
So that's the one. So I don't think it's crazy
to say the Dolphins could start off seven and one.
Maybe it is a little bit crazy, but I don't
think it's crazier than saying that's more likely than a
(33:38):
record that would garner coaching hot seat discussions. Even if
you said that they're five and three, which to me
would be a disappointment based upon the facts I just
laid out for you. You're still in a playoff position
halfway through the season. Yes, they need a better record
against better teams.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I do agree.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
That's not my argument here, because that's like the first
pushback I know I'll get. But for posterity, only the
Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes have a winning record against playoff
teams over that same span, and Justin Herbert's winning percentage
in games in which the Chargers are underdogs is lower
than to a tongue of vy Lois. So I guess
(34:15):
what I'm trying to say is the perception against the
Dolphins seems to be carried with a heavier weight, even
against facts in the face of it than other teams.
For whatever reason, to put a bow on this and
not really a bow, I guess because I got more
to talk about. When we beat Indy, I think we
will will become favorites over the Patriots at home when
we win that game, will be favored over the Jets
(34:37):
and the Panthers in weeks four and five and the
Browns in Week seven. Regardless of what happens in those
Bills and Chargers games, the Bills on the road Thursday,
you're gonna be dogs. It doesn't matter what happens the
first two games of the season, you'll be dogs. And
then we'll see about the Chargers game, and we'll see
about a road game in Atlanta. Your record and their
record's going to depend upon that. Who's healthy, who's not healthy,
will depend upon that. So to me, those first eight
games before you hit that stretch of Ravens Bills of
(34:59):
Command with a schedule really toughens up, right. Minimum, if
two plays those eight games, you're five and three minimum.
I think it's far more likely. In fact, I think
it'll be six and two. That's how I predicted these games.
Go out, Pie and the Sky would be seven and one. Now,
if they do that and they lose to Baltimore, Buffalo
and Washington and they're seven and four, or even worse,
six and five, they do go six and two, then
(35:21):
go ahead, and you know, if they do that and
they beat the Saints and the Jets and the Steelers
as favorites. I would totally understand your frustration heading into
the final three games of the season because the narrative
would be the exact same as it always has been, right,
which is not what I'm trying to argue here. That's
not the team I want us to be. My only
argument is that I just don't see a slow start
based upon this schedule if the quarterback is healthy.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Because of that thirty and five mark.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
But let's actually put the actual bow on it like this,
I think they still have the makeup as a team
that makes them impervious is the wrong word, because there
are five losses in there are thirty five games almost
impervious to the upset loss. But I also think they
built the team in a way this offseason that gives
(36:07):
them a better shot against the powerhouses, the winning teams,
the playoff teams. I think they rebuilt their culture in
a way that goes against what Trojan Horse Poyer said
last year, where if you get the Dolphins down, they
just kind of quit on themselves. I think that was
the intentionality of this offseason, was to get a mindset
and a mind frame and a tough training camp and
the right captains and leaders to not make that the
(36:28):
case anymore. And you do that by elevating Aaron Brewer
and Jordan Brooks into leadership roles and you know, demoting
Tyreek Hill from that role. You do that by signing
James Daniels and drafting Jonas of bt E and I
and Kenny Kenney Grant on the in the entrenches in
the interior like we shall see.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
We shall see.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
This will all get put to test in the first
half of the season, and maybe it winds up in
the things that Travis was dead wrong about category in
twenty twenty six. We shall see, but I feel pretty
confident about this. My boldest take for twenty twenty five
is that it is more likely the Dolphins start seven
to one than it is the head coach is on
the hot seat. That's my hot take. That's my episode tomorrow,
the full Colts Breakdown. And your boy has watched like
(37:08):
three game tapes. I've watched the preseason games. I have
done some deep dives. We're gonna be even more into
the weeds in our game preview podcast this year than
ever before Friday. I'm gonna have Steve goldziend of the
podcast Kyle Krabs makes his weekly return back to the show.
We'll pick the games, We'll go to the locker room,
talk to the players plenty to come your way here
this week on the Draft Time podcast. In the meantime,
(37:28):
you all please be sure subscribe, rate, and review the
show wherever you get your podcasts from, follow me on
social at Winklin NFL, the team at Miami Dolphins. Check
out the YouTube channel Dolphins HQ episode two coming up.
You guys delivered big time on the Antheon Weaver episode.
I think fourteen thousand views last I checked. That smashed
our previous record.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Keep that going. Please keep on watching the show.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
The more people watch it, the more the show will
keep going on, and the more access I'll get to
guys like Anthony Weavers. So watch that show seven or
eight times if you can. And the rest of the
YouTube channel for Under the Sun, which comes out or
came out last night, go check it out if you
have not seen that. And last but not least, Mimi
Dolphins dot com. Until next time, Bood, Caroline Cameron and
Willow Daddy's Coming Home.
This is Drivetime with Travis Wingfield. What is up, Dolphans
and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast. I am your host,
Travis Wingfield. On today's show, It's that time once again.
(00:20):
We've got our Colts dot Com guest, JJ Stankovitz. We've
got a game to pick. TNF is tomorrow, Friday Night
Football on Friday. We'll also go ahead and talk about
one bold prediction I'm gonna make that came from the
idea for a bold prediction segment and then turned into
a long research segment, if you will. We'll talk about
(00:40):
that from the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health
Training Complex. This is the Draft Time Podcast, Maye Gaffe.
Let's go ahead and welcome in my guest today from
Colts dot Com. Jjstankovitz joining me today is the voice
for all things Indianapolis Colts on Colts dot Com and
also the Stadium pa is JJ Steakovitz and JJ. I
(01:02):
don't think I was privy to this last time we
did this. Your your job title as the PA. I'm
super curious how that fits into your game day workload.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
And also welcome into the show, my friend.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah. Well, first of all, thanks having on Travis.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
It's great to be talking ball ahead of a game
that actually matters. But yeah, for everyone listening to this
or watching this, that annoying voice you're gonna hear yelling
about it being third down in the stadium is me.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
That it makes for interesting game days.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Right where Like, I'm still the team writer, I still
have a lot of other duties to do, but from
five hours before kickoff until right at the end of
the game, my job is to be.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
The stadiumpa announcer.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
And then as soon as the game ends, I go
right back to being the team writer and I run
down to the locker room to go talk to guys
and you know, produce articles for Colts dot com and
all that. But I gotta say it's a it's an
honor to be able to do it. This is gonna
be my fourth season as the Colt Stadium PA anouncer.
It is a ton of fun and Colts fans are
some of the best in the league. Where I always
(02:06):
joke I don't really have to do a whole lot
theready know what to do, you know, Peyton Manning the
trade him pretty well shut up on offense and be
loud on defense, So I'm just the guy who's just,
you know, hollering in the background.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
That's funny, man.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
The old days at the RCA Dome like that place,
you could hear a pin drop when Peyton Manning was
operating the offense down the field. So you're right about that.
They certainly know what they're supposed to be doing. And
you know it's funny because I do the gateloop here
at hard Rock Stadium. That's a pre recorded segment that
I did years ago, and end of the day, I
pulled up for a tea time at the golf course
and the guys like, hey, I went to the Miami
Nor Dame game and I heard you on there. I'm like,
what are you doing here? I'm like, yeah, it's one
(02:39):
of my many jobs. So the more we can do, right, JJ,
that's kind of the the the more you can do exactly.
Let's go ahead and get into this game preview here
and start with the quarterback position. JJ's I'm sure you've
been asked about this by anybody and everyone that's interviewed
you so far this offseason. And you know, one of
my favorite camp storylines that that seems to kind of
be a thing of the past is quarterback competitions like
they're kind of rare these days. He did have one
(03:00):
in Indianapolis this year. In your opinion, what did Daniel
Jones do to separate himself and win the NOD for Sunday, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Travis, it really just came down to consistency. That's the
word that Chainstyken has used quite a bit, dating all
the way back to the NFL Owners' meetings in March.
He was talking about consistency and needing consistency from the
quarterback position that goes in the operation of the offense,
So getting the team into the right play calls, into
the right looks, and then completing passes. Obviously, you know,
(03:27):
we all know Anthony Richardson completed under fifty percent of
his passes last year. Daniel Jones in his career was
at sixty four point one percent, and during training camp
it played out that way. Daniel Jones did complete more
of his passes in training camp. No, Anthony Richardson made strides, certainly,
but at the end of the day, what Shane stike
In values here is that down to down consistency. So
(03:49):
I pulled some of these numbers, Travis for an article
I wrote on Colts dot Com that went up last week.
The Colts last year had the tenth most plays in
the NFL that went for negative or zero yards on
first down. They the seventh most incompletions on first down,
despite being twenty first in total first down passing attempts.
So like when they drop back to pass, there were
(04:09):
too many incompletions and that leaves you at second and
ten right, and on second and ten the Colts averaged
a league low three point four yards per play, so
they had a ton of trouble in those situations and
really across all obvious passing downs last year. So I
think what Stichen's looking at with this offense is, hey,
if we can just be on schedule. That doesn't mean
(04:31):
we need an explosive on first down, But if we
can just get five or six yards with a checkdown
or a quick little outlet to Tyler Warren and then
we get second in four, the menu that he can
operate off of there is so different than second and ten.
So I think that's kind of the goal for this offense.
The Colts still want to be explosive, and they believe
(04:51):
Daniel Jones can do that, but that's not where Daniel
Jones game is centered on, is being explosive. If the
Colts can get that kind of efficiency that they're looking for,
that will be a success for this offense out of
Daniel Jones. And that really goes for early downs specifically.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Yeah, you pretty much described the Broncos offense with bow
Knicks last year where it was kind of screen game,
run game, get to second and manageable, then let him
go make plays from that point forward.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
And it makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
And you know, stichens like Sean Payton, one of these
these brilliant offensive minds that has put together game plans
for years of really getting more out of his the
team or some of the parts, I should say, in
terms of the production.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
And I guess I'll follow up to.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
That answer with this question about how does the offense
change considering Anthony Richardson versus Daniel Jones, Because like, we
have a game tape last year the Dolphins playing against
ar but they don't have a game tape against you know,
Daniel Jones.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
How does the offense change when it comes to those
two quarterbacks?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
I mean, look, the cult are not going to lean
into running plays with Anthony Richard with Daniel Jones as
they would have with Anthony Richardson, having said that Daniel
Jones is a good runner. If you look at some
of his numbers on early downs, he's right up there
with the best running quarterbacks in the league, Lamar Jackson,
Josh Allen, Kyler, Murray Fields like he's in that same
ballpark since he joined the NFL, just in terms of
(06:04):
some of the efficiency numbers. So you've got that aspect
of your offense still. But I had a chance to
sit down with Daniel for a podcast this week and
he was like, look, I'm going to give it to
the professional running back and Jonathan Taylor and compliment is
what I'm going to do there. So the offense will
change a little bit with that, and you're not going
to see the Colts try to build the whole plane
(06:26):
out of explosives like they did try to do a
little bit with Anthony Richardson last year. But they can
run a similar style of offense, and that's something that
the Colts have lacked over the last two years. Where
when Anthony Richardson went down in twenty twenty three, Gardner
Minshew was a capable backup, but he was not going
to run the ball like Anthony richards and you could
(06:47):
not put that on his plate. And then they went
to Joe Flacco last year, who you definitely couldn't put
that on his plate. So the offense, I think, you know,
it's not going to be the same, but it'll it'll
you know, you'll be living on the same street with
Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. I do have to say
that game last year was a that was not Anthony
Richardson at his best. He was coming off the injury.
(07:09):
He looked a little bit rusty in that game, and
the Colts weren't able totally lean into the things they
wanted to do. Now, give Anthony Weaver credit and that
defense for you know, kind of forcing that. But I
think the offense you'll see on Sunday will be different
than the one you saw with Richardson, just based on
kind of that one factor. But it's going to be
(07:31):
again on the same street as the offense they've run
with Anthony Richardson over the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I'm glad you mentioned the Daniel Jones as a runner
factor because even if he's not ripping off, you know,
twenty yard runs and running guys over like maybe Richardson could.
The ability to threaten that backside edge, you know, off
of play action and RPO and stuff like that, that's
enough to hold a defender, which is all you need sometimes.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
So and that, by the way, Travis is huge for
the Colts running game, right. They struggled at times without
Anthony Richardson in there because of that ability to pin
guys down on the back side. It opened up lanes
for Jonathan Taylor that didn't exist when you had Flacco
or Minshew back there. That those will exist with Daniel
Jones there.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah, I can alter the way you call your your
secondary too, and who comes down and fits the run
from the back end of the defense And you know,
kind of continuing on that line of thinking the offensive roster,
there's recognizable names all over this screw. But I think
the two biggest questions that fans would have or folks
would have coming into the game is looking at the
replacements of.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Will free Fries and Ryan Kelly.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Right, So I'm curious what you can tell us they
played last year, But what can you tell us about
Tanner Bordolini and Matt Gonsalvez.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Did I get that name right?
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Nailed it?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, let's go.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Most people who aren't in Indianapolis get that name wrong.
So Shot, You've done your research.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
There track Thank you, man, I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
You know, the cults like both of those guys. Bordolini
is a very athletic center. You look at them of
as combine testing numbers, and they look I'm not saying
this is a comparison really, but they compare favorably to
Jason Kelce in terms of the short shuttle and some
of those things that you look at for offensive line.
He played a couple of games last year, like you said,
(09:03):
and you know, the Colts like where he's at. He
pretty quickly won a competition with Danny Pinter, who's kind
of a long time back up here during training camp
Mac Gonzalveez at right guard. You're right, he hadn't played
guard outside of one snap really in his life. He
was a tackle at Pitt He was a tackle last year.
He is kind of the swing tackle backing up Bernard
(09:25):
Ryman and Braden Smith, and the Colts have kicked him inside.
They like his physicality. I think in the run game,
He's going to be an immediate impact guy there in
the passing game. He's got to get more reps there.
That's why you saw him play in the third preseason game.
He was the only started or play in that game
for the Colts against the Bengals. And I think he's
(09:45):
going to continue to grow into that role. The thing
that the Colts really believe in, though, beyond those two
players and the talent they have, is they believe in
Tony Sperano, Junior, their third year offensive line coach. The
development that he kind of helped foster from Bernard Ryman
and Will Fryes. Don't take it from me, take it
from the one hundred and eighty eight million dollars those
(10:07):
two guys got in contracts recently over the last couple
of months. So those guys went from you know, fries
was literally the last pick the Colts had in the
twenty twenty one draft, and Bernard Ryman was a Day
two draft picks, a third rounder, and he was the
second of two third rounders the Colts had that year.
You don't just find starting left tackles in the third round.
(10:28):
That is very hard to do. So for Tony Sprano,
Junior to develop those two guys, and the Colts are
looking at it and saying, we got guys in Bordolini
and Gonzalez who we like, and we really like our
offensive line coach, and he's already done this. So I
think all those things together are going to lead you
to believe these guys are going to be good. I
think the Colts have earned the benefit of the doubt
(10:49):
when it comes to putting younger offensive linemen in their lineup.
Having said that Week one is going to probably be
different than Week eight and Week sixteen when it comes
to those guys playing cohesively. You know, I'm sure you
know Anthony Weaver's probably going to throw stuff at them
to try to confuse them and say, those are the
two guys we are going to go pick on, which
(11:09):
I think most defensive coordinators will do. But I think
they'll grow into it, and I think they've got the
right coaching in place certainly to help them do that.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
See, this is why we have JJ on the show,
because you're basically talking taking a page out of the
Drive Time playbook. These are things I've talked about on
the show for weeks leading up to this game. So far,
so really good stuff all around. I have one more
offensive question for You'll take a break and then come
back into the defense on the other side. If you
had to choose one eligible from this Colts roster not
named Jonathan Taylor for a fancy football team, who's that
(11:39):
going to be across the receivers, tight ends, and backs?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Not jt Though, not only do you one? Only one?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Okay, that's a problem because you guys have so many,
Like it's almost like a.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Denser room than it is top heavy, right right.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
This is a very deep room.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
It maybe doesn't have that established number one. Like my
heart wants to tell you to go Tyler Warren because
I think he's going to get a lot of you, sage.
But the smart pick here would be Josh Downs. Josh
Downs is a really freaking good receiver. He is like
when you talk about like being a quarterback's best friend,
he is a quarterback's best friend in terms of his
(12:12):
ability to get open and within the timing of plays,
work into space, and he doesn't drop anything. He's got
yack ability, he's he's got some downfield juice to him.
Even though he's maybe a smaller guy, you know, he's
He's a guy who I would not be surprised at
the end of the year if he leads a deep
(12:33):
receiver room in targets and catches this year and potentially
even yards like that. That is the kind of player
he is. The Colts believe a lot in his upside,
and if you turn on the film, you're going to
see a guy who quarterbacks really trust and that is
that goes such a long way when the bullets are
flying and you've got a third and six and you
(12:55):
know who am I throwing this ball to? Number one
on the Colts is going to get a lot of
those targets.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Again, that was my number two and three options behind
JT in terms of guys to game plan for my
preview podcasts as well. So you're right online there once again, JJ,
Let's go ahead and take a break right here, come
back on the other side and discuss this Colts defense
here on the Draft Time podcast my guest today, JJ
Stankovitz from the Indianapolis Colts or from Colts dot Com.
I should say Draft Time Podcasts brought to you by Autoonation.
(13:22):
Back here with my guest today from Colts dot Com,
JJ Stankovitz, talking about this coltson Dolphins Week one match up,
a preview for the kickoff of football in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
I cannot wait for it.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
And jjflipping over to the defense here, I want to
ask you what is kind of a threefold question about
some newcomers here, and it's lou Anararumo, former Dolphins coach
Cam bind Them and Tarvarius Ward. And to me, all
of those moves come from a singular vision of how
this defense wants to play right, And I'm curious to
your opinion is that an accurate assessment? Even if you
(13:52):
could perfect great, So then to follow up, if you
could educate our fans on what that is, that would
also be great. Well.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
So your fans might be familiar a little bit with
how Louannarumo played his defense with the Cincinnati Bengals over
the last couple of years, and know there was only
that one game against Miami. I think that was the
one where two ahead the concussion, so you didn't really
get maybe the full scope of what lou is going
to do.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
In that game.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
But for us here in Indianapolis, the excitement around Louannarumo
is that he's building this thing from the back to
the front, and it starts in the secondary. And that's
why the Colts went out and spent a lot of
money to get Tarvarius Ward and cam Binam. Speaking on
those two guys, what they bring to this defense. Ward
brings your traveling with the best receiver, lockdown corner. So
(14:38):
I mean, look with the Dolphins, right, you got Hill
and Waddle, who's he going to travel with? Is he
going to travel because you have those two guys. But
what that allows louannar Rumo to say, Okay, hey, maybe
we can lock the backside of this play and I
can do some funky stuff over here with the other guys.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
But he can only do that funky stuff if.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
He is cam Binam as kind of the command center
in the back end of his defense. If you look
at those Bengals defenses, they fell off under lou Aennarumo,
and I don't think it's a it's a coincidence that
they fell off when they no longer had Jesse Bates
and Von Bell, two veterans who are extremely smart. Cam
Binam was like, I listened to The Athletic Football Show
(15:14):
a lot, and like, right from the jump, they're like
one of our favorite fits in free agency. Before free
agency was cam Binam going to the Colts because of
what he can bring to a lou Anarumo defense, so
his ability to kind of be that shape shifting safety
in the back end to confuse you. I was talking
to Michael Pittman Junior about this recently, where he was like,
(15:34):
the first week of training camp, I had no idea
what we were running in the back end because he
was like, pre snap, you think it's two or four,
and then they transition into something else, and as you're
running across the field, you're like, well, why is he
doing that? That doesn't make any sense. And he's like,
it is so hard to play against these guys because
you just don't know what they're going to do. And
a lot of that goes to Cambinam in the back end.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Yeah, I think that.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
You know, you mentioned the Colts losing or not the Colts,
the Bengals losing Bell and Baits like those guys replaced
with rookies and young players, and I kind of felt
like lou had to almost fall on that sword for
that reason, and here the Colts are the beneficiary of that.
So I wrote my preview podcasts. That was the best
move the Colts made all off season was getting lou
n a Rumo.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So excited to.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
See what he can do, maybe not in Week one,
but beyond this, beyond the Week one game, what he
does the rest of the way. I have two more
questions for you here, JJ. This one focuses on the
front seven of the Colts defense, which, by the way,
another interesting aspect of this game is the Colts defense
kind of built back to front, Dolphins defense kind of
front to back, so two different ways to skin a
cat there. But up front, I'm curious how this pass
rush looks to you because I was a huge Layatu
(16:37):
Latou fan coming out of college. There's some quality depth
out there as well, and Grover Stewart and to Forest
Buckner are two of my favorites as well. What can
you tell us about this front seven heading into the opener?
Speaker 3 (16:47):
It's very deep.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
It's kind of like the wide receiver room a little
bit in that it's deep, but there's not a like
a superstar. I mean, I think to Forrest Buckner is
one of the best defensive players in the NFL, but
he's not like a ten SAT guy at this point
in his career, so he's not getting maybe the national
attention of you know, some other folks in there. But
this this front, I look at it and I go,
(17:10):
that's a good front. The thing that could take them
to being a great front is if layout Tu Latu
takes that step, that year one to year two step
where you know last year he would he would throw
a move and he wasn't able to counter it super quickly.
So if he was, you know, gonna throw kind of
a speed rush and he got set for a speed rush,
he wasn't able to transition speed to power as quickly.
(17:33):
Just based on the reps and kind of learning NFL
offensive tackles. I talked to DeForest Buckner about Lattu last
week and he was like, the speed with which he
is now throwing that second move. If okay, this one
didn't work, Bam, get to the other one. He's like,
that's the jump he's made in year one to year two.
He's got to be able to finish. He's got to
be able to make those moves count by getting to
(17:54):
the quarterback and getting the quarterback to the ground. But
if he's able to be a a game wrecker off
the edge, who you have to. Like our radio analyst
Rick Vanterios talks about ambient players where if you're opposing
offensive coordinator, you got to take an ambien to go
to sleep because of that guy, because he's gonna give
you nightmares. If lat two can turn into that guy,
(18:16):
this defense could could be really, really good.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
I talked about it on my podcast.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
I think they could be a top five defense if
you get twelve sacks out of Layatu Latu and what
they can do in the back end. So but if
he doesn't take that step and say they just have
a bunch of guys who are getting eight nine sacks
like they did in twenty twenty three, that still is
a good front. And if you can stop the run
on early downs with Buckner and Stewart in the middle,
maybe a little bit better depth of defensive tackle than
(18:42):
the Colts savan in years past. And then Zion Franklin
who's led the NFL and tackles set franchise records for tackles.
He's a really good player at linebacker. This could be
a good front. I think again, like if wat Tu
takes that step though, and we see it like right
from the jump, I think you might be sitting here
in week three or for being like this Colts defense
is a chance to be really good this year.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yep, I could see it again, hopefully not week one.
But for you guys, a lot of potentis I want
to upside after that for you guys looking forward to Man,
I'll close this episode the way I do every single
kind of Cross Enemy Lines episode. The Colts win this
game if and then that's up to you to fill
in the blank.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
The Colts win this game if they are able to.
I mean, I just I want to say, just like,
look like a functional offense. I think they will. So
let me let me put it this one. The Colts
will be able to win this game if Dan if
Anthony Weaver has to respect Daniel Jones' ability to throw
the ball downfield. If because I think this is what
(19:39):
opposing defensive coordinators are going to do to the Colts
earlier in the season, is they're going to say, we
are not going to let Jonathan Taylor beat us. We
are going to compress things twenty yards from the line
of scrimmage, and if Daniel Jones can beat us downfield,
then we adjust.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
That's what it's going to be.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I mean, Daniel Jones, over the course of his career
in New York has not been a deep ball thrower. However,
when I brought that up to him last week, he
kind of bristled at it. He was like, yeah, I
hear that from literally everyone in like almost this kind
of annoyed tone. I think the Colts are going to
try to do that. Like I just talked about how
they want to, you know, keep everything on schedule. But
(20:16):
it's a lot easier to do that if you can
kind of relieve some of the pressure on those short
and intermediate throws. So if Daniel Jones can connect on
a deep ball or even just threaten it to an
Alec Pierce to and ad Mitchell to Josh Downs in
one of those situations, and you've got to maybe back
off a little bit as a defense. That's where I
(20:36):
think the Colts will get an advantage in this game
if things get compressed and you start looking at Okay,
we're trying to stay on schedule. But now it's third
and seven and here comes this funky pressure package from
Anthony Weaver, who is, as you guys know, is great
at those sim pressures and fire zones. That's where it
could get a little challenging for the Colts. I think defensively,
(20:57):
make sure that you don't get gashed over and over again,
which is I'm sure you hear that from like literally
everyone you talk to.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
But try to keep a lid on things.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Don't let hill or waddle get downfield, don't let eight
chan hit a crease and get sixty yards. Just try
to keep it, you know, everything in front of you,
and then get into those third and long situations if
you can. And that's when Louanna remote can really cook
out there. So those are kind of two things that
I'm looking at. You know, it's not really rocket science
to be like the team that's going to get a
(21:27):
bunch of explosives and then limit explosives might win the game.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
But I think in this game specifically, that's what I'm
looking for.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Football is a very simple, you have very complex game
at the same time.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
That's why we love it so much.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
He is at JJ Stankovitz on X, the host of
the Flagship podcast on Colts dot Com and the STADIUMPA.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I hope you don't have too many.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Third down calls for us come Sunday, JJ, but thank
you for your time. Man, it was a blast and
we appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Appreciated Travis always good talking ball with you.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And away he goes, and on.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
We roll into segment two and we've got football coming
up in about twenty four maybe a little bit more
hours based upon when you hear this podcast. But it's Wednesday,
and tomorrow the NFL season begins and it's not a
fun matchup. Probably one of the worst matchups of the
weekend if you asked me, if you heard the Predictions podcast,
we have the Eagles rolling back to an NFC East
(22:13):
title and the Cowboys falling back to six and eleven.
So what am I going to predict for the opening
night game in Philly as they unveil their second ring
in franchise history against their most hated rival who just
traded away their best player and the vibes are probably
at an all time low. I'm going to take the
Philadelphia Eagles in an absolute romp.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I just.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Man, I get it that like money rules all and
we put you know, big market teams and teams that
have these massive followings and these primetime slots, and you're
never going to get away from that. I mean, the
Giants have dominated primetime slots. The Chicago Bears have dominated
primetime slots over the last forever. I mean really, but
in the last you know, five or six years, both
those teams have been four and five win teams, and
(22:57):
yet we get them four or five times in the
primetime slots, and usually early in the season to negate
the fact that they're gonna have four and ten records
later on and you can't put them in primetime in
those spots. So the early season primetime schedule suffers as
a result of that. And we're getting that right away
from jump. This is a game that's supposed to be
Chiefs and Ravens, right. I usually am not crazy about,
(23:19):
like the biggest game of the year being Week one.
I think it's kind of a feel out week and
if you can survive with a victory, it's a good thing,
no matter who you play or how you play. But
we can do better than this, right That's just my
take on that Cowboys are gonna be a tough watch
this year, and.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Putting them in this spot against the Eagles.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
When the Eagles playing the Commanders this year, you know
they could have put them in that spot they.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Play who is at the Lions right.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
I don't know if it's a real game or a
home game, but they're playing all the division champs because
they finished first in their division. I just think we
could have done much better. But I'm taking the Eagles
over the Cowboys in that spot. I'm taking the Chiefs
over the Chargers, and that one I cannot wait to watch.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
You know, people tweet about.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
This and talk about the I'm a huge hate watcher,
by the way, watching Bill Belichick go down in competition
and get absolutely drubbed by the TCU Horned Frogs, Don
Shula would never But as far as hate watches like,
I like watching the Jets lose. I like watching the
Bills lose. I like watching Herbert throw four picks in
the playoff game.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
You like that, I like that, like Kirk cousins Man.
So I think I'm taking the Chiefs in this one
in Brazil, and the Chargers get off to a rough
start without a player that would equate to them the
way I think if Tyreek Hill is still in his prime,
we're gonna find out about that here very shortly. The
way losing a Tyreek Hill for this offense has been
in the past I think that's how big the Rashawn
(24:42):
Slater loss is. So I think the Chargers are gonna
lose a lot more games that would have been close
that they could have possibly won, like the games they
won last year that was a close, close game victory
Haven were the Chargers last year against bad teams. I
think that a loss like Slater changes that and especially
puts you in front of a seventeen game schedule where
you know, one more loss if Joe allt goes down
(25:02):
or if Trey Pipkins goes down, they're already deep into
that rotation. And I just think that building the team
to the offensive line and losing the top guy on
that line before the season starts, Man, that's a big loss.
And I think the Chiefs will do what they always
do and start off hot Andy Reid. You know, first
game of the season typically cooks up some new stuff.
Give me the Chiefs big over the Chargers there in
(25:24):
Brazil in Week one. Let's go ahead and take our
last break right there. Come back on the other side.
I'm excited about this segment. I kind of it evolved
as I wrote it down on paper. We'll talk about
my biggest bold take for twenty twenty five with the
Byami Dolphins Is Concerned. That's Next Draft Time podcast, brought
to you by AutoNation, our last segment on a Wednesday
(25:46):
ahead of a brand new episode of South Park. I
believe America's game debuts tonight and then you've got TV
on your football like pretty much every day from now
until in New Year's and that's not the case. I mean, hey,
what by our time?
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Then?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
Like December when you get like NFL on Thursday and
Saturday and college games mixed in and bowl season, like
that is the best time of year, right, And I'm
so excited about just this time of year in general
because all the holidays are coming up in football is here,
and it's just there's just always something to do when
you're a diehard football fan. When the calendar turned September
(26:21):
and we freaking made it everybody, So I am fired up.
I cannot wait. I think on Friday, I'm gonna I'm
so excited for that Chiefs in Chargers game.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I just talked about it.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I think I'm gonna take my daughter and son to
indoor mini golf and then go get dairy queen and
then come home and watch them football like boom, What
a perfect Friday night that's gonna be. So I had
this segment queued up to be a list of bold predictions,
and I couldn't come up with one beyond the one
that inspired the segment idea. And then I wound up
(26:50):
getting deep into the weeds on this one thing and decided,
let's just research this and go heavy on this one
take and focus on the single bold take. So if
you heard my Tuesday podcast, my bold take is this.
If you heard the Tuesday podcast, I have Mike McDaniel
winning Coach of the Year this year. And if you
(27:10):
missed that episode, it boiled down to this because a
lot of you're turning off your radio dials right now
because you're mad about Mike McDaniel and this team right now.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Which, by the way, Pro Football Talk twenty ninth in
the power rankings.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Get out of here, man, what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (27:23):
What do we not?
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Come on? Bro?
Speaker 1 (27:27):
My god, my own. But anyway, it boiled down to this.
I think this team's gonna win double digit games this year,
provided the quarterback is healthy.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
And again, if you can if.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
You don't think that's the case, I'm not going to
argue with you on that you've got four years of
evidence versus one year of evidence. To my contrary, I
do think this team wins double digit games with a
healthy quarterback. And I'll explain to you why I think
that he can replicate what he did in twenty twenty
three here in just a moment. So from jump, healthy quarterback,
team wins double digit games. And if this team wins
ten plus games, given the prison exception of where they
(28:00):
are right now, twenty ninth and a freaking power ranking,
then that's the definition of the Coach of the Year award, right,
which I think is inherently flawed. Like the coach of
the year to me should be the one that wins
the Super Bowl, you.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Know, speaking of b to ble to check.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
How did be a band of check not win a
single Coach of the year during their like Patriots run
right like what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (28:19):
You know?
Speaker 2 (28:20):
But I but I digress. So here's my take.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
The inherently flawed Coach of the Year award will go
to the team that it surpasses expectations as the feel
good story of the year, and I think that's the
Miami Dolphins this year.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
But the bold take.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Is this.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
You ready?
Speaker 1 (28:37):
It is more likely that the Dolphins start the season
seven and one than it is a coaching change happens
mid season, And there's a lot of layers to that.
I think the only way this team does not start
hot is if something happens to the quarterback. And again
history tells you that that's well within the realm of possibility.
(29:00):
It might even be more than a possibility, it might
be a probability. And last year when he came back,
I told y'all I did not see a reform player
based in his press conference engagement, based upon the way
he played the game. Quite the opposite, actually, But now
I do think he understands the risk and the risk
management factor of all this and how all that plays
(29:21):
into his decision making on critical third and fourth downs.
Now we're gonna have to see that first big down, right,
the first third down in the fourth quarter in a
tight game.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
What does he do?
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Does he commit to his training to protect himself or
does that go out the window in search of making
the game changing play? And I struggle with what I
prefer him to do in those situations. I think, before
it's December, to me, throw it all the way out
the window. Just don't even like I'll take a loss
to the Carolina Panthers if it means I have two
of for the next four games, because last year we
could have lost that Buffalo game and it would have
(29:52):
sucked for a week. But if I had two against Seattle, Tennessee,
New England and Indianapolis, we're five to one. And I'll
fight anybody about that discussion. And I'll tell you what
here in just one second now, late in the season,
go ahead and go for it, because I'd rather, you know,
we can't, you know, protect ourselves and must win games
down the stretch. But anyway, I do think he's learned
(30:15):
how to do his part to keep himself healthy, and
that's really all this needed, because he's always adept at
getting the football out and avoiding those big blind side
shots that cost him sands. You know, twenty twenty one
when the famous puts some respect on Jesse Davis's name game,
but he stays up right that way. He's taken some
weird hits in the pocket, but doesn't really that's not
usually what gets him injured, right, It's just the it's
(30:38):
the way he runs himself into trouble. Like even at
Alabama when he had that tightrope surgery and he kind
of favored that ankle leaving the pocket and that's kind
of what forced the move to reduce the impact of
going down to the ground on that ankle, and he
took it to the hip like a freaking car accident.
We saw it in the I mean the Green Bay concussion.
(30:58):
You know, that was an instance of getting you know,
whip back on the back of his head, which is
a continuation of the Bengals game previously, so it's it's
never been and then the Houston game last year, like
diving for a first down. It's never been about like
him taking these ordinary shots. It's when he does extra
that puts himself in harm's ways. So I think, I think,
and we'll find out when he plays a game that
he's learned to not do that. And then that brings
(31:20):
us up to the schedule here, to the first eight
games of the season, and guys, I'm gonna point at
Pete here once again because this is one of my
biggest arguments I have to make every year, it feels
like and it's just based on being online too much,
like being on Twitter and seeing too many comments from
too many people that quite frankly just it shouldn't matter
to me, but it does. But you guys, know, do
(31:41):
you know Tua's record in games in which the Dolphins
were favored, because I always see the comment you know
they're gonna lose games that they're supposed to win. Really, really,
you sure put up you're sure about That's why because
last year in twenty two twenty four, the Dolphins were
five and one in games started by Tua in which
(32:04):
they were favorites. The one loss was the Cardinals game.
In twenty twenty three, they were favored in eleven to
two of games. They were ten to one in those games,
the Titans being the one game they lost. In twenty two,
they were six and one in games started by two
a Tongua bai Loa in which they were favored at kickoff,
the Packers game being the only loss. In twenty twenty one,
(32:25):
they were five and one in such games, the loss
being the Jaguars. And in twenty twenty just five games
of these instances, but he was four and one starting
against teams that he was favored to beat. That's thirty
and five in his career. That's twenty one in three
since twenty twenty two, when his career actually began, when
the head coach wasn't texting him threatening things before the game. Right,
(32:48):
So again, I say, if he's available, we beat the teams.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
We should.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
The proof was in the putting my friends, and I
think by the time the game kicks off against the Colts,
we will be favored. I don't I still don't understand
that line. I think it's gonna move because the lines
move with public betting. I think the money, you know,
sixty seven percent right now is in the Dolphins as
I speak on Tuesday. That's going to continue to push
that line closer towards Dolphins favorites. I believe we'll see
that come Sunday. So I think that'll be the case
(33:16):
in six of the first eight games. The Chargers game
is the one that I'm not sure, and I think
we're gonna have to see how the first four or
five games go before we get a number on that game.
But you know we'll be dogs against the Bills, right,
So that's the one. So I don't think it's crazy
to say the Dolphins could start off seven and one.
Maybe it is a little bit crazy, but I don't
think it's crazier than saying that's more likely than a
(33:38):
record that would garner coaching hot seat discussions. Even if
you said that they're five and three, which to me
would be a disappointment based upon the facts I just
laid out for you. You're still in a playoff position
halfway through the season. Yes, they need a better record
against better teams.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I do agree.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
That's not my argument here, because that's like the first
pushback I know I'll get. But for posterity, only the
Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes have a winning record against playoff
teams over that same span, and Justin Herbert's winning percentage
in games in which the Chargers are underdogs is lower
than to a tongue of vy Lois. So I guess
(34:15):
what I'm trying to say is the perception against the
Dolphins seems to be carried with a heavier weight, even
against facts in the face of it than other teams.
For whatever reason, to put a bow on this and
not really a bow, I guess because I got more
to talk about. When we beat Indy, I think we
will will become favorites over the Patriots at home when
we win that game, will be favored over the Jets
(34:37):
and the Panthers in weeks four and five and the
Browns in Week seven. Regardless of what happens in those
Bills and Chargers games, the Bills on the road Thursday,
you're gonna be dogs. It doesn't matter what happens the
first two games of the season, you'll be dogs. And
then we'll see about the Chargers game, and we'll see
about a road game in Atlanta. Your record and their
record's going to depend upon that. Who's healthy, who's not healthy,
will depend upon that. So to me, those first eight
games before you hit that stretch of Ravens Bills of
(34:59):
Command with a schedule really toughens up, right. Minimum, if
two plays those eight games, you're five and three minimum.
I think it's far more likely. In fact, I think
it'll be six and two. That's how I predicted these games.
Go out, Pie and the Sky would be seven and one. Now,
if they do that and they lose to Baltimore, Buffalo
and Washington and they're seven and four, or even worse,
six and five, they do go six and two, then
(35:21):
go ahead, and you know, if they do that and
they beat the Saints and the Jets and the Steelers
as favorites. I would totally understand your frustration heading into
the final three games of the season because the narrative
would be the exact same as it always has been, right,
which is not what I'm trying to argue here. That's
not the team I want us to be. My only
argument is that I just don't see a slow start
based upon this schedule if the quarterback is healthy.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Because of that thirty and five mark.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
But let's actually put the actual bow on it like this,
I think they still have the makeup as a team
that makes them impervious is the wrong word, because there
are five losses in there are thirty five games almost
impervious to the upset loss. But I also think they
built the team in a way this offseason that gives
(36:07):
them a better shot against the powerhouses, the winning teams,
the playoff teams. I think they rebuilt their culture in
a way that goes against what Trojan Horse Poyer said
last year, where if you get the Dolphins down, they
just kind of quit on themselves. I think that was
the intentionality of this offseason, was to get a mindset
and a mind frame and a tough training camp and
the right captains and leaders to not make that the
(36:28):
case anymore. And you do that by elevating Aaron Brewer
and Jordan Brooks into leadership roles and you know, demoting
Tyreek Hill from that role. You do that by signing
James Daniels and drafting Jonas of bt E and I
and Kenny Kenney Grant on the in the entrenches in
the interior like we shall see.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
We shall see.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
This will all get put to test in the first
half of the season, and maybe it winds up in
the things that Travis was dead wrong about category in
twenty twenty six. We shall see, but I feel pretty
confident about this. My boldest take for twenty twenty five
is that it is more likely the Dolphins start seven
to one than it is the head coach is on
the hot seat. That's my hot take. That's my episode tomorrow,
the full Colts Breakdown. And your boy has watched like
(37:08):
three game tapes. I've watched the preseason games. I have
done some deep dives. We're gonna be even more into
the weeds in our game preview podcast this year than
ever before Friday. I'm gonna have Steve goldziend of the
podcast Kyle Krabs makes his weekly return back to the show.
We'll pick the games, We'll go to the locker room,
talk to the players plenty to come your way here
this week on the Draft Time podcast. In the meantime,
(37:28):
you all please be sure subscribe, rate, and review the
show wherever you get your podcasts from, follow me on
social at Winklin NFL, the team at Miami Dolphins. Check
out the YouTube channel Dolphins HQ episode two coming up.
You guys delivered big time on the Antheon Weaver episode.
I think fourteen thousand views last I checked. That smashed
our previous record.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Keep that going. Please keep on watching the show.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
The more people watch it, the more the show will
keep going on, and the more access I'll get to
guys like Anthony Weavers. So watch that show seven or
eight times if you can. And the rest of the
YouTube channel for Under the Sun, which comes out or
came out last night, go check it out if you
have not seen that. And last but not least, Mimi
Dolphins dot com. Until next time, Bood, Caroline Cameron and
Willow Daddy's Coming Home.
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