S1 E8 - 49ers Bounce Back vs. Rams, Set Sights on Buccaneers | The Saloon

CBS Sports reporter Keiana Martin joins The Saloon to recap the 49ers win over the Rams, with interviews featuring OL Jake Brendel and LB Fred Warner, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers senior writer and editor Scott Smith and team reporter Casey Phillips give an opponents perspective on Week 6.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Hey faithful, this is your team reporter Bree welcoming you
to our brand new podcast, The Saloon presented by Cisco.
Here you will get all of your latest news and
updates on the San Francisco forty nine Ers, including exclusive analysis,
interviews with coaches, players, and more. Be sure to subscribe
on Sirius xm Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere you get

(00:42):
your podcasts. Thank hey, faithful, Welcome back to the Saloon
presented by Cisco. The forty nine Ers are four and
one after a Hollywood overtime victory against the Los Angeles
Rams in Week five. I'm your forty nine Ers team
reporter Brianna Janelle and in today's episode, I catch up
with Keana Martin from CBS Sports to recap everything that

(01:04):
went down in Thursday Night football. Also in this episode,
you'll get to hear from offensive lineman Jake Brendle. I
had a pregame conversation with him, and then after the game,
I found linebacker Fred Warner on the field at SOFI
Stadium to get his instant reaction from.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
The Thursday Night football win.

Speaker 1 (01:20):
Also in this episode, you get to hear from Bucks
reporters Casey and Scott as they give us an opponent
breakdown on week six. Now, don't forget to subscribe to
this loon on YouTube, Apple podcasts, everywhere you get your podcasts,
and also on SIRISXM. Now let's hear from Keanu Martin.
Joining me now is CBS host and reporter Kianu Martin,
the faithful no Her lover.

Speaker 2 (01:41):
Kiana, thank you for joining me today.

Speaker 3 (01:43):
I am stoked to be here. Thanks so much for
having me.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
Today.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
We are recapping week five, Thursday Night football against the Rams.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
Let's start with the big picture.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
What impressed you most about how the forty nine ers
responded from that Week four loss to pull out this
overtime win against the Rams.

Speaker 3 (01:59):
I think right now I'm like checking my blood pressure.
I think it's finally dropping after what we saw on
Thursday Night. But I think when you drop a game
the way you did in Week four, and especially at home,
I think there is no better way than to come
out the way that the forty nine Ers did. And
I feel like, I mean, let's let's call a spatas
bade here. Everyone was writing this team off and you're

(02:20):
coming in shorthanded. You coming off of a letdown loss
that you just had in week four, and you're playing
this Rams team that a lot of people believe can
be sitting there at the top of the NFC when
all is said and done, and now your backs are
against the wall, and yet this team just kept up
that fight. Offensively, I know we're going to dive a
lot more into it, but you're without your starting quarterback

(02:41):
and Brock Purty mac Jones comes out and he delivers
so efficiently and so effectively. And then defensively, you know,
I always just take my mind back to Robert Slain
what just his presence means for this defense and to
see some of the young players step up make some
key plays, and that's even being without several guys. I
you know what, I really applaud this team just for

(03:03):
the fight and the grint. You came out hot, and
we have to give credit where credit is due Kyle
Shanahan and the way that he gain planned this game
against the Rams, because we know, we know that Sean
mcvig wants nothing else than to embarrass the San Francisco
forty nine ers on that primetime spotlight being sure handed,
and they had every objective to do that. But Kyle

(03:24):
Shanahan certainly whipping up a fantastic game plan, putting his
players in advantageous positions to excel and to succeed. All
in all, I think this was a fantastic game. And
I might selfishly be saying this, but just considering maybe
some of those games we've been seeing in some of
those primetime slots this year haven't been as thrilling and
as exciting. But the NFL got a fantastic one. But

(03:47):
the forty nine Ers and Rams.

Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, I mean Thursday was a ton of fun.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
And speaking of Kyle Shanahan, he talked about Mac Jones
in his toughness, I mean, the bananas, the cramps, everything.
How do you think that sort of grit resonates with
this locker room in particular?

Speaker 3 (04:03):
I mean, that's the leader of your team, regardless who's
in that exact position. A lot of people look towards
the quarterback, and I think even as fans are just
viewers and you are watching him, he is looking battered
and bruising. You're just like, oh my gosh, like, get
the man a strutcher. But he just kept bouncing back
and was just so resilient. And then even coming into

(04:24):
this game and playing through that leg entry that he
had been dealing with and leading this team to those
extremely effective first two touchdown drives. And I loved what
the forty nine ers were able to do because that
was brilliant by Kyle Shanahan. The way that you try
to manage what the Rams are throwing at you is
keep that offense off the field, and mac Jones and

(04:45):
this offense able to do that just orchestrating these long
drives and they just kept showing Matthew Stafford just sitting
on the sideline ready to get into that game and
mac Jones delivering. I think one thing that also stood
out when I was watching his performance was, you know
he you had to kind of get the ball out quickly,
and that was the part of that game plan that

(05:06):
Kyle Shanahan kind of placed for him. And we know
that this Rams defense looking to slow him down, looking
to attack, but I was seeing on I believe it
was maybe pro football focused and even after this game,
Mac Jones maybe not with the biggest numbers coming out
of the game, not the biggest grade, but a lot
of that was because it was designed for him to

(05:27):
kind of do these dink and dunks. Get this ball
out quick, Let's get these chunk yards and keep this
drive going. And I feel like he executed with perfection.
So with that being said, you know when you see
your backup, you know, driving down the field, this guy's
getting up. The jersey's all tatteredy, he's on the sideline.
Three bananas we learned not eleven, but like dealing with

(05:49):
these cramps but still going out there and battling through
like that's got to give your team some motivation. That's
got to wants you to rally behind your guy. So
big kudos for Mac Jones. And I will say this,
I feel like I personally owe him an apology. And
that is not just you know, coming into the forty
nine ers this season, but I even go back to
that draft class and when he ended up going to

(06:10):
the Patriots, and I know there was like a lot
of talk about, you know, Kyle Shanahan and Mac Jones,
of what this duel might be. But now that we
get to see Kyle and what he can do with
a player like Mac, it is so exciting to see.
So you want your backup to be able to step
in and there is no drop off. We see teams
around the league and what's going on. And we can

(06:31):
put the Bengals out there for an example, with Joe
Burrow no longer there, but seeing how this team not
quite performing to that level. Mac Jones sliding in effortlessly,
and it has been a joy to watch the forty
nine ers. Extremely fortunate that they are having to deal
with the zero drop off when it comes to the
quarterback position.

Speaker 2 (06:49):
Yeah, everything happens for a reason, right, Mac Jones.

Speaker 1 (06:52):
Now with Kyle Shanahan in twenty twenty five, now, a
big piece of the offense is Christian McCaffrey. He continues
to make NFL history. What stands out to you about
what he brings to the offense both as a runner
and a receiver, because the forty nine ers are clearly
dealing with a few wide receiver injuries.

Speaker 3 (07:08):
If I'm not mistaken, and I know you're in house,
you hear this very often. But I feel like we
heard Kyle say that McCaffrey is like the best running,
best receiving running back something like that ago. Yeah, and
it's absolutely true what he is able to do. And
I believe it's almost a bit of a blessing in

(07:29):
disguise because you think about teams now everyone is game
planning towards Christian McCaffrey. How do we slow down McAffrey
because it's not just on the ground game but also
it's you know, through the air as well. But because
of that and so much focus going towards him, that
opens up so many things for so many other playmakers.
I mean, we talk about Jake Tunes and what he's

(07:50):
done in his early year, and then also Kendrick Bourne,
another player. You know, a lot of that focus maybe
going to seem see and that just opened the floodgates
for KB to have such a big game. But I
was looking at some numbers from Christian McCaffrey so far
this season, and he's getting just big, like barely just
south of fifty percent of the forty nine ers offensive

(08:11):
touches and that is even despite teams game planning to
find ways to stop him. So he has been tremendous,
extremely efficient. Of course, the rushing numbers aren't what we
are seeing. And I know there's people talking about all
this forty nine Ers team. They're four and one despite
no rushing touchdowns on the season, but they are still
finding ways to score. They are finding ways to win.

(08:31):
Credit to the defense, definitely got to give them a
shout out there, but nonetheless, Christian McCaffrey a big piece
of this team's success and why they are to this
point at where we are right now in the season. Yeah,
we'll say, though I think it's going to be once
you even get kittled back in the game, how that
will also help in the run game and maybe seeing

(08:52):
more more of those ground yards and more of Christian
McCaffrey getting back to what Christian McCaffrey normally does.

Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 1 (09:00):
I mean someone even asked Kyle Shanahan after again, you know,
we haven't seen a rushing touchdown yet this season?

Speaker 2 (09:05):
Is that concerning? And Kyle clearly he was like, as
long as we score, that's all that matters.

Speaker 1 (09:10):
Obviously there's a huge focus on the run game and
making sure that's open for Christian to get through, but
if you're scoring touchdowns, that's really all that matters at
the end of the day. You mentioned Kabe Kendrick Bourne.
He had a breakout for Forman's one hundred and forty
two receiving yards. He's a guy that knows the history
of this team. He had some career highs against the Rams.
How valuable is his leadership to this years squad?

Speaker 3 (09:33):
You know what, I'm going to be one of those
people that I was stoked when I saw that the
fort that he came in for a visit with the
forty nine ers, and I know he was going to
see the Commanders as well and left without a deal,
and I remember seeing some or not before I even
gets that, I was really hopeful that and this is
despite the injuries that the teams, the team was dealing with,
that KB would eventually make his way back to the

(09:54):
forty nine ers. And it's his play on the field,
but also what kind of teammate he is. And you know,
I was in the locker room there when Kendrick Bourne
was with the team and a fantastic teammate, fantastic personality
and one of those positive people. And that's something that
I feel like when you do have a number of
young people, you want that kind of person that brings

(10:15):
that good person, a good football guy, but also a playmaker.
And so I remember once he did sign the forty
nine ers, I saw somebody once tweet and I don't
know who this person is, but they said, this isn't
a needle mover for the forty nine ers. This move, Well,
let's fast forward out a week five and do we
still feel that way. I mean, like you said, had

(10:35):
historic and big career numbers for himself ten catches, one
hundred and forty two yards, and we know everyone keeps
talking about those big drops from a week ago, but
certainly made up for that in his performance eight first downs.
I was stoked to see just that performance and how
he bounced back. And I think a lot of credit

(10:56):
also goes to having that rapport with Mac Jones, then
spending that time in New England together, and I think
we got to see that on the field, that connection
absolutely looked a little bit undeniable. And I'm not going
to throw out but what it could have shout's But
I feel like, say, this was a different situation back
in week four and Mac was under center, maybe not
seeing so many of those drops. I think that connection

(11:18):
was on full display, but the less a fantastic outing
from KB. I think stepping up when this team is
without wide receiver one two and three, and that's including
Brandon I you currently still out, but I think the
way he stepped up, teams now are going to have
to start zeroing in on KB just another weapon that

(11:39):
the forty nine ers have in their arsenal. And I
think there's a lot of those hidden gems on this roster,
and I am stoked that a lot of people are
getting to recognize and learn these names, especially on these
primetime stages. But KB like fantastic night for him.

Speaker 1 (11:55):
Absolutely yeah, his connection with Mac Jones is undeniable and
he called it his bounce back game on Thursday Night.
But speaking of those hidden gems, defensively, there's a lot
of young players that really showed up. Alfred Collins with
the clutch forced fumble, Marquis Siegel leading the team in tackles.
What does this say about the development of this difference
under Robert Sala?

Speaker 3 (12:16):
It's you can't emphasize And I know I said it earlier,
but just I feel like the impact of Robert Sala
when it comes to this team, and I think we
even saw just an uptick and play. And I told
Sala when I saw him this offseason, I was like, listen,
it was a very unfortunate situation whatever did transpire in

(12:37):
New York. But I can't think of anyone that is
more excited to have you back in this building than
I am, because I just remember seeing how hard the
guys play for him, how much they love playing for
Robert Solid. Players that even lead and are playing for
other teams still mention how great of a defensive coordinator
and just a coach that Robert Sala was, and I
think a lot of the young guys learning from him.

(13:00):
It's really exciting to see. But you think about obviously
you're without you know, one of your top defensive players
and Nick Bosa, and you're seeing so many young guys
stepping up. And even in this game Thursday night, forty
nine ers lose two of their d linemen and then
you see some younger guys and I mean the name
that everyone's going to go to is Alfred Collins and
what he did in that massive spot the play of

(13:23):
the game, I think we can all fairly say. But
I think Solid being in that building streamlining the development
of these guys, and when you have a coach that
backs you coach that is that's just as hype as
you after a play on the sideline, you know, I
think the sky is the limit and it's just showing
the depth that this team has. That's on full display

(13:46):
and say when I was talking about you know, Kendrick Bourne,
I know he's a veteran in on this roster, but
you know it's another some more of these hidden gems
that are starting to just kind of make a name
for themselves and saying, hey, like, I'm here too, regardless
what injuries might happen or where on place, like, I'm
here to step up and make plays. And they're showing that.

Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah. Absolutely, Kyle Shanahan, he called this one of the
most exhausting yet memorable games that he's coached. From your perspective,
what made it such a defining win for this team?

Speaker 3 (14:20):
It was a statement, when I think that's the best
way to put it. It was an absolute statement. When
your backs are against the wall, everyone is counting you out.
You know, you're on the road, Prime time, all the
focuses on you. Yet you come out here and you deliver,
and you know, we can call it an improbable win.

(14:42):
Not many people expect you when you're without so many
of your key players to come out and perform this way.
Like I mentioned, against a Rams team that a lot
of people foresee being one of the final teams standing
there representing the NFC when it's all said and done.
But I think also just the range of emotions that
we got to see in this game. We saw the

(15:02):
highest of highs, we saw the lowest of lows, we
saw the comeback, we saw the fifty nine yard field goal.
I think this was like a story book game. It
had it had the climax, it had the you know,
the ups and downs. But nonetheless, I think just it's

(15:23):
a division game. You know, this is a team that
people were writing off. It just had the makings of
just an incredible story. Obviously for the forty nine ers,
but fans certainly got a fantastic matchup, and I think
a lot it also put a lot of teams on notice, like, hey,
this forty nine ers team is for real. They might

(15:43):
be down some players, but it's way too early to
start writing them off because they have depth, they have pieces,
they have that coaching that also it's certainly something that
you need to take note of. So all in all,
fantastic game. I mean, especially for the people that didn't
have a dog in the fight for them, a great
game to watch. When you have a dog in the fight,

(16:04):
it's a little a little nerve wrecking, but Nonetheless, this
is one that will go down in memory as one
of those games that we always go back to and
kind of reference and shout out to the faithful, because
they were even talking about it on the broadcast about
how the faithful showed up to us SOFI Stadium and
represent it, And I know that certainly is an extra

(16:26):
boost and motivation for this team. So just help lead
to a storybook ending for the forty nine ers.

Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah, straight out of Hollywood Thursday Night Football was absolutely
a movie. Now, sitting at four and one after a
mini by, what's the biggest thing this team can build
on as they look to Tampa Bay in Week six?

Speaker 4 (16:44):
Ooh, So.

Speaker 3 (16:47):
I'm excited about this game. I'm excited about this game
because I feel like a lot of people are drawing
those similarities between Mac Jones and Baker Mayfield and now
we're going to see them going head to ahead on
the field together. But you have two teams that are
currently sitting with the best records in the NFC. This game, obviously,
you know, I know, it's still fairly early in the season,

(17:07):
but could have some playoff implications as we start getting
down further down the line. But already you see people
still kind of into that narrative of forty nine Ers
are still shorthanded. But also when you look at it,
this is also a Bucks team that is extremely shorthanded
it as well. But I think when you're talking about
this forty nine ers building upon that, you think about

(17:29):
this Rams game and Puka Nakua and even too too
at while having these big games. So how do the
forty nine ers respond?

Speaker 5 (17:34):
Now with the.

Speaker 3 (17:35):
Buccaneers having a rookie wide receiver who's having a fantastic
start to the season in a Mecca Buka if I'm
pronouncing it correctly, but I think he's coming off of
a game where he had kept caught all seven of
his targets over one hundred and six yards, had a touchdown.
I think one of those names that might be in
the Offensive Rookie of the Year running so far. And

(17:55):
then also this is a Bucks team that they're kind
they've kind of been the comeback kids this year. All
of their games, if I'm not mistaken, have been decided
by five points or less. They I'm trying to I
think that's what it is. And then they've had so
many games where they're also coming back fourth quarter comebacks,
walk off victory. So this is one of those situations

(18:18):
where I believe the forty nine ers you can't just
like how they started off fast in that Rams game
and then obviously we saw those halftime adjustments from LA
and had a stronger second half. This is one of
those games where you're going to have to keep your
foot on the gas and that's all four quarters, hopefully
not having to go into any extra minutes of play there.
But it's starting fast, it's how do you build upon

(18:39):
that and how do you continue to force those turnovers?
For this Bucks team who's playing very, very well, they
have a similar defense, I would say in the Rams,
but maybe a secondary that has some questions, So something
that the forty nine ers can try to exploit. They're
haven't quite lost a step. Even though Mike Evans hasn't
been in the lineup, Bucky Irving lot was out of
that last game. What's going to be his status? Is

(19:02):
that another area the forty nine Ers can find a
way to exploit. So I think there's some similarities in
what we saw Thursday night that the forty nine Ers
can bring into this game. But all in all, I
think that game plan is continue to dominate the clock,
keep that ball out of Baker's hands, because they are
a dangerous team as well, and defensively find that ways
to exploit this vulnerable secondary. And I still have belief

(19:25):
in this forty nine Ers team, regardless shorthanded or not,
because I think they proved a lot on Thursday night
and I think they have the ability to prove something
again in week six. And I'm excited this game on CBS,
so one of the I would say, and I don't
think I'm being biased, this might be one of the
best games on CBS this weekend. So it's going to

(19:45):
be a fun one. It's going to be a tough
one out there in Tampa Bay. They are at home,
they're feeling very good, especially coming off of their win
against Seattle. So forty nine Ers looking to build and
continue to build.

Speaker 6 (19:57):
So it's going to be a thrilling one.

Speaker 3 (19:58):
I'm excited for it.

Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yep Kana.

Speaker 1 (20:00):
This game got flexed from a morning game to a
late afternoon game, so some more eyes are on this Matchine,
And when you're looking at how the Buccaneers have gotten
their wins so far and how the forty nine Ers
have gotten their win so far it's looking pretty similar,
same with the injury report, so just a lot to
look for on Sunday.

Speaker 2 (20:16):
Kiana, thank you so much for joining me on this one.

Speaker 3 (20:19):
Absolutely, thanks for having me and go Niners. Let's have
a great week.

Speaker 2 (20:22):
Good Niners.

Speaker 1 (20:23):
I caught up with offensive lineman Jake Brendle to hear
what it was like to prepare for the Rams on
a short week. After that, we take you on the
field at SOFI Stadium for another segment of From the Trenches.
First step my pregame conversation with Jake Brendle. Hey, faithful,
this is your forty nine Ers team reporter Breonna Janelle. Today,
I'm sitting down with offensive lineman Jake Brendle right before
the forty nine Ers Thursday night football contest against the

(20:44):
Los Angeles Rams. Jake, thank you for joining me today.

Speaker 2 (20:47):
Of course, thanks for having me absolutely.

Speaker 1 (20:49):
Now you're entering, or you're playing in, i should say,
your fifth season with the forty nine Ers.

Speaker 2 (20:54):
What's it like to grow into a veteran role here
in the offensive line.

Speaker 7 (20:59):
I mean, it's great, you know, I've I've really learned
to love this offensive scheme and Steph, it's definitely one
that I physically fit into. There's there's some schemes across
the across the league that you know, a three hundred
pound center is considered undersized.

Speaker 2 (21:13):
So crazy to think about.

Speaker 7 (21:15):
Yeah, that's kind of crazy, But yeah, I mean I
really just try and go out there and make it
as easy for both coach first and also just the
offensive staff to just have another coach out there.

Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah, you know, fans may not always get to know
linemen as much as skilled players as a center. What
does game preparation look like for you and what do
you want fans to know about your approach to the game.

Speaker 7 (21:38):
Yeah, I mean every week is pretty much the same. Obviously,
we're on a condensed schedule this week, but most of
the time we just install you know, first and second
down first, and then we kind of go over that
and we practice that. Then the next day we install
like a short yardage and third down package and goal
line package, and then by Thursday, pretty much all of
the haze and the barn so they say, and we

(22:00):
can go out there and just make sure that the
last finishing touches are good on Saturday and Sunday.

Speaker 1 (22:05):
Yeah, well, this week, like you said, it's a little different,
got a jam packed day on Tuesday, Wednesday's travel, Thursday's
the game. Just what's your experience working on a condensed
schedule like that.

Speaker 7 (22:16):
Yeah, I mean you're basically looking at two days and
one for two days straight, so you're doing four days
and two days of work and of install and of
of walkthroughs and practices. So you're pretty full when it
comes to the schedule. But you just have to lock
in and just make sure that you're recovering physically as
well from the previous game and make sure you don't

(22:38):
carry anything that you don't have to carry into this
Thursday night game that you don't.

Speaker 1 (22:43):
Have to Yeah, it seems like you need to be
completely clear mentally physically to be completely focused for Thursday's game. Now,
you've got a unique relationship with the quarterback as a center.
What's it been like working with both Brock and Mac?
How have you seen Brock Purty evolve and what's it
like working with them, especially through these last couple of
weeks working.

Speaker 2 (23:01):
With both Brock and Mac.

Speaker 7 (23:03):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, just speaking on Brock first, you know,
just his ability to you know, be drafted where he
was and basically that person being drafted at the last position.
I mean, it's it's almost better to not be drafted
than to be drafted. So just the fact that he
kind of turned that into what he has really sees
the day and sees the opportunity that he has, and

(23:24):
I mean, it's it's it's completely deserved on what his
new contract is. And I I really just do see
him as like a future, like great player. If you
if you really look at some of the other guys
that have come through this facility, I mean, he's he's
really right up there.

Speaker 1 (23:40):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (23:40):
And then with Mac, I feel like he approaches the
game a lot different but also gets the job done
kind of the same way. He's a lot more lax
and kind of like chill and like kind of jokey
and goofy, but at the same time, like he's such
a good player. And you know, I just feel like
no matter who's in that position, I just feel like
the front office really does find these like backup guys

(24:02):
like Sam Darnold or you know guys, guys guys in
previous years where like they're basically starting caliber quarterbacks. You know,
all they need is one opportunity to really get out there,
so you know whoever's out there. I feel like Mac
always seeses the day too, just because he takes advantage
of any opportunity they can get.

Speaker 1 (24:19):
Yeah, interesting to hear how they approach the game, maybe
a little bit differently, but still find a way to
get the job done. What's your experience like working with
the both of them, like more recently in these last
couple of weeks with Brock under center than Mac under center.

Speaker 7 (24:32):
Yeah, I mean Brock Brock has had a little bit
more time in the scheme and in this system. He's
he's a little bit more direct when it comes to
decision making. That doesn't mean that like Mac makes makes
makes bad decisions.

Speaker 2 (24:44):
Yeah, Yeah, it's just mass it's new to the locker
room and new to the scheme.

Speaker 7 (24:47):
Yeah, for sure, So Mac macan might take like one
more second to you know, get like a can or
get like a play call change or whatever it may be.
But at the same time, I mean, you're still getting
the same end result, which is nice.

Speaker 3 (24:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (24:59):
Well, whether it was after a win in week three
or a tough loss in week four, everyone in the
locker room has said that you guys are still putting
the pieces together. What does that look like for the
run game right now when it comes to working together
and creating opportunities for some explosive moments on the offense.

Speaker 7 (25:17):
Yeah, I mean we've we've you know, we've been running
our bread and butter plays now for as long as
I've been here, and they've really worked really like, really efficiently,
and we've always had the ability and the opportunity to
make eight, ten, fifteen yards on each first down. Now
it's looking like it's a little bit different because I
think a lot of the defensive coordinators have kind of

(25:38):
wised up to some of our bread and butter plays
and the way that we do things. So, like Kyle
Shanahan has done in the past, he's going to change
up the way that you present those plays and the
way they look and the way that they're run with
Instead of, you know, a receiver doing the job that
it usually does, now the you know, the fullback is
going to do that job or vice versa. And you know,

(25:59):
I have full faith that we're going to get back
to kind of the bread and butter plays and really
put in the offensive what would that be like run
first mentality back into our game plan, and you know,
I really have faith that we're going to do that,
you know, coming in the next few weeks.

Speaker 6 (26:17):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (26:17):
Yeah, Well, with our eyes set on the Rams, this
rivalry always brings energy. What's it like preparing for another
Rams matchup a team you've seen time and time again.
What are the biggest differences this year?

Speaker 7 (26:30):
Yeah, I mean, I feel like they've you know, they've
they've made some personnel changes in the front. Uh, you know,
seven or eight players that they have all of all
of the players that they have in that front, you know,
seven like the D line and the and the linebackers
have been pretty consistent players. You know, they've kind of
switched out the nose guard to some someone that we've

(26:50):
actually faced in the in the past of our Seattle
So he's he's he's he's a familiar face. But honestly,
they're they're they're really trying to set the tone and
try and try and be as physical as they possibly
can to kind of throw off the offense, just to
you know, kind of knock them back or maybe have
a stunt or blitz that you just just can't really

(27:10):
see coming. So we just really have to stay on
our toes and be it adaptable and make sure that
we haven't answer to all their stuff.

Speaker 1 (27:16):
Yeah, on that point, Chris Trula's defense is strong against
the run. They also get after the quarterback. Fourteens from
the Rams defense so far this season. How do you
prepare for a matchup like that? And what does it
take to keep the offensive live?

Speaker 7 (27:29):
Yeah, I mean, first, first and foremosts we just have
to make sure we protect the quarterback. You know, sacks
especially on first and second down just this day just
can't happen, whether it's keeping guys away from the quarterback
or the quarterbacks just dirting the ball whenever he has
to just to live another down. And you know, really
it's also just comes back to the efficient run game.
If if I mean, if if it's third and one

(27:50):
instead of third and eleven, that's a huge difference. So
making sure that you're you're staying ahead of the sticks
is always key.

Speaker 2 (27:58):
Yeah, and now it's talked about every single year.

Speaker 1 (28:00):
We know forty nine Ers fans travel well and show
up especially at SOFI. Hopefully you don't hear from them
when you take the field, only when a play is successful,
but in past games at SOFI.

Speaker 2 (28:11):
Do you feel their presence? What are some of your
favorite moments from these LA games.

Speaker 7 (28:14):
Oh, I mean, it's been huge just seeing you know,
I guess they call it Levi's South or something. You know,
it's on Abel to get out there even pre game
and just see all the red uh that's up there
in the stands. You know, it's it's it's such a
different experience, especially on away games, where you can really
go out there and you can trust that the like

(28:35):
the crowd's going to be on your side.

Speaker 4 (28:36):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (28:37):
Finally, Jake, the faithful are listening to this just moments
before kickoff. What's your message to them before the team
takes the field for Thursday night football.

Speaker 7 (28:45):
Yeah, I mean, it's it's it's it's it's gonna be
a grudge match. It's going to be a you know,
just it's just again that's gonna come down to how
physical the like the line is, how physical our run
game is, and and and it really just comes down to,
you know, who's going to be on their blocks, who's
going to be on their assignments better. It's such a
short week, and it's and it's such a hard time

(29:06):
to really just install so many things and in such
a short time, So it's just going to be how
physical and how you're at it, like your attitude and
your mentality comes on Thursday on.

Speaker 2 (29:16):
Thursday night, excited for this one. Thank you, Jake, thank you.

Speaker 8 (29:23):
You can't tell me.

Speaker 7 (29:24):
You're seeing more red in here than blue.

Speaker 8 (29:27):
It's not a great hung that's how you.

Speaker 9 (29:29):
Know, faithful, stick with us, the talking them out.

Speaker 10 (29:32):
Look at it all this.

Speaker 1 (29:34):
Right in here.

Speaker 8 (29:36):
It was al can't beat it.

Speaker 1 (29:38):
You can't beat it.

Speaker 3 (29:39):
That's two beautiful sight right here.

Speaker 8 (29:45):
Let's go. Kn't gay thirsty?

Speaker 11 (29:47):
Our pot on house?

Speaker 12 (29:48):
You going it, Let's go.

Speaker 2 (29:49):
It's all enough man, It's all about how we get
downe man. I don't get no better than this, no
better feelings.

Speaker 4 (29:54):
That's dominant to day man, show.

Speaker 3 (29:55):
The world what we were about.

Speaker 8 (29:56):
The only game on the nights.

Speaker 2 (29:57):
I all right, let's be who we are.

Speaker 12 (29:58):
Let's play bakers Man, slide out though you want to five.

Speaker 3 (30:00):
House Thursday night, all lights on that we know we
got with all heat?

Speaker 12 (30:06):
How up on me?

Speaker 8 (30:07):
Come up?

Speaker 10 (30:08):
Three hot Kong.

Speaker 9 (30:09):
I believe in y'all RBS on three?

Speaker 12 (30:10):
What two three are?

Speaker 4 (30:12):
Sure?

Speaker 1 (30:14):
Way?

Speaker 12 (30:18):
Hey man?

Speaker 3 (30:18):
Were back in the home city, gonna go up.

Speaker 11 (30:22):
Nighter's done, yes, sir man.

Speaker 8 (30:24):
Thursday night foot up don't getting up better than that?
Get in my house.

Speaker 7 (30:29):
I get my house.

Speaker 3 (30:31):
Listen out, do not leave this hotel.

Speaker 7 (30:33):
If you're not reading?

Speaker 10 (30:34):
Hit come on hell?

Speaker 5 (30:36):
Play?

Speaker 3 (30:36):
Would I help me?

Speaker 4 (30:37):
What I to the past?

Speaker 3 (30:38):
Today?

Speaker 8 (30:39):
This day will come down?

Speaker 7 (30:41):
Wants this game on?

Speaker 4 (30:42):
Don't me?

Speaker 7 (30:42):
I I want to get the world. I'll take us
every day.

Speaker 4 (30:46):
That don't three?

Speaker 12 (30:48):
What your three?

Speaker 8 (30:49):
Him? What we gotta fuk out of me? I gotta
get don't be a bad man going.

Speaker 3 (31:05):
That's you on the three?

Speaker 7 (31:06):
What that thrt?

Speaker 11 (31:07):
Has your health?

Speaker 8 (31:08):
Play fast? Play physical?

Speaker 4 (31:10):
Hit him?

Speaker 8 (31:11):
Do it bright man? Let's go now, tax it up there?

Speaker 7 (31:15):
What's the treasure?

Speaker 4 (31:17):
Got it?

Speaker 3 (31:17):
Got? It's gonna be a movie.

Speaker 7 (31:38):
It's gonna be a movie.

Speaker 8 (31:40):
Alright, got we said last week, you know you're discussive?

Speaker 1 (31:46):
What the hell?

Speaker 4 (31:47):
Far man?

Speaker 2 (31:47):
Why can't you excuse me?

Speaker 1 (31:49):
The key?

Speaker 10 (31:49):
Reach your keys.

Speaker 1 (31:56):
Godeed?

Speaker 8 (31:59):
You can feel it, Henny, you can feel it. That's
I wasn't her home man in it were home forever?

Speaker 7 (32:09):
Oh yeah, I'll round, he said.

Speaker 13 (32:10):
Man, that's what.

Speaker 12 (32:39):
It is.

Speaker 7 (32:40):
You're called the tail.

Speaker 13 (32:43):
It is his.

Speaker 7 (32:45):
You thefer You want the ball?

Speaker 14 (32:46):
Which I want to hear me say, you're hung the air?

Speaker 10 (32:52):
Want I'll play action.

Speaker 3 (32:59):
He's chase.

Speaker 10 (32:59):
He throws at the screen. It's McCaffrey and he picks
up the first time and a lot more gets close
to midfield of the forty seven yard line. Jones hangs
in there, throws that's caught by Kendrick Bourne. He's inside
the foot burn down the sideline, say he's on his
sweet gets inside the twenty yard line, So Bourne will

(33:20):
have to do a lot of heavy lift the night
with Presho and the Jennings out. That's good for thirty
five yards third down and one here to the outside
and cutting back first down. There's play of the drive.
Two tight ends person goal from the sixth short drop,
I would have been a wide open touchdown, water open
a drive. The tight end tongues into the end zone.

(33:52):
Tacker that sacked. That's price puff. He'll have to pick
up a lot of the load. In the absence of
Bosa eleven yard secon yard line, Jones pashes put Robinson
along the sideline. So a third and nine in the
X Ram comes back to pick up the first down

(34:13):
and the pass is pat and I'm a cockrew for
the touchdown and plenty of fort and honor. Fans are
here tonight. They travel well at Eric's hanat.

Speaker 8 (34:26):
The walk you can't go to got.

Speaker 9 (34:30):
My mouth fill?

Speaker 3 (34:36):
Okay man?

Speaker 10 (34:41):
The drop one is loose and all of a sudden,
as you're talking about what he means to the team,
he drops it.

Speaker 3 (34:50):
And Trevis Gibson.

Speaker 10 (34:52):
Runs away with it. Frustration on the face of Sean
McCay is henwer's run down and.

Speaker 3 (34:59):
Set it right front of the nearest. Came out.

Speaker 8 (35:05):
That the top up, they said, we're bringing. It's a
good up on the mills from the life right A.

Speaker 9 (35:22):
Stafford takes, gives Karen Williams and he is who he
fumbled it.

Speaker 8 (35:28):
The Niners are saying they got it.

Speaker 9 (35:30):
The play was shy of the line again.

Speaker 8 (35:32):
The forty nine ers come out of there.

Speaker 3 (35:34):
Alfred Collins has the football.

Speaker 8 (35:36):
What a huge right hook? Godok. He comps, where's your pull?

(36:02):
Everything you've got, every bet you got.

Speaker 9 (36:05):
Stafford gets under center at the eleven yard line. He
takes it, He turns, he gives the Karen Williams.

Speaker 12 (36:10):
He gets packed.

Speaker 10 (36:11):
I think he's short him. I think he's short and
the forty storm the field.

Speaker 7 (36:17):
It is all over.

Speaker 8 (36:19):
The fort have won it in over time.

Speaker 7 (36:22):
That's the money.

Speaker 2 (36:25):
Nothing like Thursday night football in l A.

Speaker 3 (36:28):
Come on, baby, a.

Speaker 2 (36:31):
Man all the way to the d Who stopped that
dude on the goal line?

Speaker 7 (36:39):
Alfred comor? Hey, Alfred got the strip right?

Speaker 11 (36:41):
He d line? Man, Alfred, you're making that strip? Alba,
come on, ECUs the Wallber, We're gonna find you.

Speaker 10 (37:00):
Eddie hit him fifty nine yarder.

Speaker 12 (37:05):
Every time.

Speaker 11 (37:05):
Bro, That's why football is the greatest team sport.

Speaker 3 (37:08):
You guys have my back. I appreciate it.

Speaker 4 (37:10):
You what me?

Speaker 13 (37:10):
That's sir.

Speaker 11 (37:12):
Here we go family on three one two three.

Speaker 4 (37:15):
The forty nine ers got the job done in overtime
in l A against the Rams in primetime. Fred, you
were all over the field. You led the defense and tackles.
Once again, what was your mindset coming.

Speaker 2 (37:26):
Into this game?

Speaker 12 (37:28):
I mean, we knew the team that wanted it more
was gonna win this game on a short week divisional opponent.
I'm just so grateful looking at these fans right here.
It took everything, obviously, but it was a great win.
Team win.

Speaker 4 (37:42):
The Rams kept it competitive, but your defense made the
key stops.

Speaker 2 (37:47):
What was the key to slowing them down in this game?

Speaker 12 (37:50):
Just resilience, Honestly, you know that's a great offense, a
lot of firepower, great quarterback, great running back, and we
just had to keep going and obviously it took an
extra quarter there and just winning it at the end. Man,
it was awesome.

Speaker 4 (38:01):
Now, how important is it to bounce back get back
on track, especially against a division rival?

Speaker 12 (38:09):
Yeah, it was huge. You know, we knew that we
didn't play our best ball last week and the world
was against us this game. But at the end of
the day, two teams got to strap it up and
go play a football game. So I'm just so proud
of our guys and your.

Speaker 4 (38:22):
Message to the faithful who made it out tonight.

Speaker 2 (38:24):
To support you.

Speaker 12 (38:26):
I love you, Dumpe City.

Speaker 2 (38:31):
God spread. Thanks what a game one will remember for
a very long time.

Speaker 1 (38:36):
Now we turn the page to week six, let's go
into the locker room to hear how the forty nine
ers players are shifting their focus to week six.

Speaker 3 (38:43):
I want to have a situation.

Speaker 12 (38:44):
Your game for the you know, diffuy and did something
so you know, yes, like I said Thursday, we spend
ours back to your work.

Speaker 9 (38:54):
Didn't friend say anything to kind of give you guys,
all right, it's probably gonna go this play or one
way or the other.

Speaker 3 (38:59):
That's formation.

Speaker 12 (39:00):
I mean just just the way that they're uh, the
way they balk.

Speaker 2 (39:03):
The position was you knew it was gonna.

Speaker 13 (39:04):
Get run right, So.

Speaker 1 (39:07):
Watch how surprised were you that when you touched out
actually ended up at.

Speaker 12 (39:17):
I don't know if it's like looking up, I like
school ball version was awesome.

Speaker 8 (39:24):
Play botching.

Speaker 14 (39:26):
See aftermath of that turns your phone blowing up and
you know, like birthday.

Speaker 6 (39:33):
Yeah, and I actually got tough afraid and I asked
him about the picture.

Speaker 3 (39:36):
There is some of the young guys along the deepest
sense of all they were playing up. A few guys
they flashed the lame, you know, And he says, the
way to feel like he belonged in the league is
to make biggau.

Speaker 7 (39:45):
They had you led content for sure, you know, to
harbor put these guys.

Speaker 13 (39:51):
End day.

Speaker 14 (39:59):
Five games anyway, each games in a one square game
that has come down to the wire.

Speaker 7 (40:04):
Are you used to this already? Happy winning?

Speaker 3 (40:08):
You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1 (40:09):
You know, it feels easy about to be able to
do it.

Speaker 13 (40:11):
And you know.

Speaker 7 (40:13):
You find wasting when you're in And.

Speaker 10 (40:17):
How's your knee feeling?

Speaker 2 (40:18):
That you wouldn't have anything going for a red River
this week.

Speaker 3 (40:22):
I told him you're ready to wear uh the Spiggy
T shirt.

Speaker 13 (40:25):
That's what I'm saying.

Speaker 7 (40:28):
Down when you saw the ball in his hand, doesn't
a thing, It was an instant.

Speaker 3 (40:35):
Could we tell you how it is? You give me.

Speaker 11 (40:41):
Love's art soolt good.

Speaker 14 (40:43):
So that similar circumstance.

Speaker 12 (40:46):
Oh, I mean, yeah, they got to score, didn't got
it was that close, soully very important.

Speaker 1 (40:55):
I think you want to talk us through how the
teams put down a lot of work to get pretty
yard isn't like this, it's.

Speaker 12 (41:03):
Coming to work maybe intentionally with my body, eating, sleeping
and stuff like that, and uh, just bond into what
they're teaming.

Speaker 5 (41:11):
Mean, it's been working, Washington times changing like that.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
Feel feels like it feels good, keep good for faster strong.

Speaker 5 (41:21):
How much you comfortable?

Speaker 7 (41:22):
I feel just seem to be in the freeze.

Speaker 12 (41:25):
Oh, I mean like Rips, Foston Rips taking the critics,
season fix ni the next.

Speaker 10 (41:31):
Day, same season, field some more.

Speaker 3 (41:35):
When your better, you can get into yards two and
marquis playing.

Speaker 5 (41:42):
Oh yeah that's what. Uh yeah, we was a fighting
for every blad uh blade of grass. Cause it was
like if people that have got that.

Speaker 3 (41:48):
You know, we probably wouldn't even be happy right now though.

Speaker 13 (41:52):
So.

Speaker 3 (41:54):
Eathing sold out on that way, I don't say, what's
how much more dings you happy?

Speaker 4 (41:59):
Jun?

Speaker 12 (41:59):
You so loud.

Speaker 5 (42:01):
A big advantage, I would say, you know, just playing,
just playing, I'm playing their scheme, facing it in practice
and just you know, going against the best you know,
offensive mind in football really every day. You know, it's
it seems like when people around other stuff and just
they don't look the same memo.

Speaker 3 (42:21):
Each week you guys kind of taking a hit when
it comes to one of your main guys being injured.
But then it seems like each week you guys get
a win. Does it seem like each week you guys
being more confident in this roster because of that, like
you guys you know, princ the bus price.

Speaker 5 (42:35):
But it also make that I just think, like it's
the way that we coach everybody the same. So like
when when the next man is up, there's no drop
off for real, So like everybody's preparing to be a starter.
So like in our room when somebody go down, you know,
we never lose hope of like oh oh the next

(42:55):
person is coming in, Like oh he's not as good
as you know, we all prepare to be started show
in the in our room. It's just you know, that's
just kind of how we coach it.

Speaker 13 (43:04):
The biggest but he thinks like it's the next man
or thing or just be kind of because he just
fills that.

Speaker 3 (43:09):
Role like he just supposed that.

Speaker 5 (43:12):
He is saying, yeah, yeah, Like I think the mentality is,
you know, he he got in his head like he's
supposed to be a starter. So you know, all the
players that he's made, and he feel like you know,
I mean, we all feel like he can make the play.
You know what I'm saying. We all got the utmost
confidence in him. You know, with just this team, you know,

(43:32):
we're gonna rally behind each.

Speaker 13 (43:33):
Other regardless what are the biggest emperivalents of Chased This
means since training him.

Speaker 5 (43:38):
Uh, it's confidence. You know when he first came, you know,
he was really like trying to figure out stuff, you know,
figure everything out, figure everybody out. And I feel like
now he got more comfortable with the team, so he's
able to you know, charge true.

Speaker 3 (43:52):
Character mal practice window is getting open this week.

Speaker 2 (43:55):
Well he add to the defense, comes back.

Speaker 3 (43:56):
Malick Malick Man.

Speaker 4 (44:00):
A real bullet.

Speaker 3 (44:02):
I call him like He's like our human bullet out there.

Speaker 5 (44:04):
You know he ain't there's no fear, relentless player. I can't.
I can't wait to have him back. I'm happy to
have him back and I'm I'm happy he ready to go.

Speaker 3 (44:13):
What do you see, Buka.

Speaker 5 (44:15):
Oh, we haven't really broke.

Speaker 3 (44:17):
Down them yet.

Speaker 5 (44:18):
We're just still finishing up from last year. But from
what I've like, I've seen like players and stuff. He's
a talented player, great receiver. You know from Ohio State.
You know, they got a number of receivers you know,
who produce at a high level. So looking forward to
you know, challenging them and playing against them. He's playing

(44:44):
out of this world right now. You know, to only
throw one interception this season so far. He's been playing
I know, with the utmost confidence.

Speaker 1 (44:54):
Joining me now are reporters from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
Scott and Casey. Scott and Casey, thank you so much
for joining me today. They are here to preview week
six in Tampa Bay. First, Casey, Tampa is off to
an amazing form one start after some dramatic finishes, four
wins by three points or fewer. What do you think
has allowed this team to deliver in such clutch moments.

Speaker 6 (45:15):
I don't know if you knew this. Scott had brown
hair five weeks.

Speaker 13 (45:19):
All of our incredible last second wins here are stressing
all of us out, but thankfully we're coming out on
the right end of almost all of them. But it's
been insane, Like I don't remember anything like this in
all my years of being here covering pro sports in general.

Speaker 6 (45:35):
It's been truly it feels like the luck.

Speaker 13 (45:38):
Is on our side, the plays are on our side,
the talent, that everything that it takes, that this team
has talked about the way that you can see the
culture come out in these last couple minutes that they
just believe in Baker, they believe in each other, and
they feel like, if we have it close, we feel
like we're going to come out on top. And I
think that's when people talk about having a winning culture,
that's what they're talking about, and we've seen the evidence

(45:59):
of that where they're just like, oh, we've got the ball,
a minute left, two minutes left, We're fine, We're totally winning.
This is that expectation has shifted, whereas last year it
felt like we were on the wrong end of all
of those If you looked at all of our games,
every time it was close or went to overtime or anything,
it just felt like we didn't come out on the
right end of it. So this year it's so cool
to see that they have done any complete one eighty

(46:20):
on that.

Speaker 1 (46:20):
Yeah, that story is familiar. And speaking of Baker Scott,
Baker Mayfield has been extremely efficient against the Seahawks twenty
nine completions for three hundred and seventy nine yards. How
would you describe his command of the offense in year
three now?

Speaker 14 (46:34):
Well, as Casey said, part of the part of it
is just the belief that all his teammates have in him,
and he's actually been quite precise in this passing I
think is the way I would put it this year,
even more so than the last couple years. Although last
year he completed over seventy percent of his passes. But
in that game you mentioned he had twenty nine completions,
that was in thirty three attempts. He was the first

(46:56):
quarterback ever to throw for over three hundred and seventy
five yards and throw a fewer than five incompletions in
a single game. So he's making good decisions, I would say,
And then also he is making good decisions in terms
of when to run.

Speaker 3 (47:13):
He tends to.

Speaker 14 (47:14):
I think he's been trying lately to run a little
bit less, to take fear of his because he's gotten
a little banged up. You see him scram but throw
the ball right before crossing the line right in recent games.
But when we need eight yards on third down and
he sees an opening, he's going to go for it.
So I just think he's making great decisions. When you
say yeah, I.

Speaker 13 (47:33):
Think they really worked on that this offseason too, of
trying to help him, you know, rain in a few
different things. Rain in the hero ball where he feels
like he has to make every play, every throw, like
know the situation, it's not always necessary.

Speaker 6 (47:46):
And I think we've seen that he really took that
to heart.

Speaker 13 (47:48):
He's still Baker, he's still the guy that's going to
throw a stiff arm occasionally, but he's making really good decisions.

Speaker 14 (47:53):
And he's actually throwing downfield more than last year. But
he's doing it at the right time. So, like she said,
he's not playing hero ball. He's taking the shots when
they're there, and that has been especially true to a
mecha Buca and he converted three third downs of more
than eleven yards last week, and they were on shot
plays mostly.

Speaker 1 (48:11):
Yeah, I just wanted to talk about actually that wide receiver,
that rookie receiver that is hitting those.

Speaker 2 (48:16):
Downfield targets and Mega Buka.

Speaker 1 (48:17):
He's been on a fire backspack one hundred yard games
already five touchdowns.

Speaker 2 (48:21):
What's made his you know, early chemistry with Baker so strong.

Speaker 14 (48:26):
Well, he's just I don't know if I've ever seen
the reaction to a rookie receiver that his teammates and
his coaches have had to a mecca from day one.
When he got here, they were saying, he's just he's
not a rookie, he's a veteran, and so he does
everything right. He runs all of his routes precisely. He's
where Baker expects him to be, and he gets it

(48:49):
like he has corrected Baker in the huddle on some
place he's he's asked questions in the meeting room that
another receiver, Stroling Shepherd was telling me he has questions
that has us veterans looking around saying, where do you
come up with this? And he's right, and sometimes the
coach has to go look up the information of verify
that he's right. So it's just that veteran presence that

(49:10):
he has I think that has made him able to,
you know, get acclimated to the NFL so quickly.

Speaker 4 (49:18):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (49:18):
In casey, I also want to look at the defense here.

Speaker 1 (49:20):
Levante David continues to lead the way, even ceiling last
week's win with an interception.

Speaker 2 (49:25):
How does he continue to set the tone for Tampa's defense.

Speaker 13 (49:28):
Yeah, I think that's the perfect way to describe it,
that he is such an incredible leader on and off
the field, that we have something in Tampa called I
am that man. And that is the phrase that our
front office uses when they're trying to figure out who
they want a draft. And there's a picture in our
draft room that it's essentially a silhouette of a player,
and so if you didn't know, you wouldn't realize it
actually is Levante's silhouette. And it's a reminder that when

(49:52):
they go to draft, they always think we want another Levante.
And it doesn't mean inside linebacker. It means a person
who is obsessed with football, carries themself well in the
locker room, cares about the community, and is going to
be the perfect teammate, mentally smart, and part of the game,
the complete package. Levante has been that for this organization

(50:13):
through all of the ups and downs, and he has
been the one constant on this team with everything else
going on, and so the young guys have him to
look up to, and he is that tone setter where
just everyone kind of says about people like he and
Mike Evans, like, well, if they're doing this, I clearly
have to do it. If they're going hard in practice,
if they're still studying this way, if they're carrying themselves

(50:33):
this way as someone who's beyond proved it, if they're
a future gold jacket, I should also do those little things.
And so I think the influence that they bring is
so much more than just the x's and o's on
a Sunday. It's the way that generationally, the way they
carry themselves will ripple through.

Speaker 6 (50:48):
And we saw that Levonte.

Speaker 13 (50:49):
Look, he would not love some of the plays he's
made this season. He dropped an interception a few weeks ago,
and no matter how much of a leader he is,
he heard it from his coaches and from his teammates,
and so then the fact that he got the game ceiling,
you know one essentially this week that gave us the
chance to win that ballgame. I think that was a
sign that this guy is still I am that man
at this point in his career.

Speaker 2 (51:10):
Still hunting for it.

Speaker 1 (51:11):
Well, Casey, this will be Tampa Bay's third straight matchup
against a divisional leader. What's the mindset like as the
Bucks prepare for another heavyweight game against San Francisco.

Speaker 13 (51:21):
Yeah, this part or the schedule is a gauntlet, and
it just so happened to coincide with when we were
so injured, and I think all of us were like
looking at when all the injuries happened, looking at the
part of the schedule, and you know, you never know
what's gonna happen in a game, never things that look
like sure wins or sure losses. That doesn't always mean it,
but just in general, we know we can look at

(51:42):
a schedule and go ooh, this looks a little tough,
and we're in the midst of it. And I think
that what's really cool is to see that after getting
that win in Seattle, if you'd told this team at
the start of the season you're going to start four
and one, I mean they'd be over the moon about that,
especially the knowing that you've gotten some of these wins
with all these injuries. It really sets you up better
going into the bye week before too long and in

(52:02):
the back half of the schedule where you're gonna have
a lot of divisional.

Speaker 6 (52:05):
Games that are really important.

Speaker 13 (52:07):
I think it's great to hear that you're told, man
without Tristan, a few of those games without Mike Evans,
some without Chris Godwin, some without Bucky a little bit
like you would have been thrilled to hear your starting
four and one. So I think after that game in
Seattle where they beat an incredibly talented Seahawks team, you
feel good going into this even when you might not
have felt as good before. Hey, this team is just

(52:27):
figuring out how to get it done, no matter who's
out there or who you're playing against.

Speaker 6 (52:31):
So I think that's a really encouraging thing.

Speaker 14 (52:32):
Would you agree, Yeah? Absolutely, And we have Detroit after
this game. Yeah, So it doesn't end here, and you know,
you're just trying to get to the buy in a
good place. The win over Seattle helps quite a bit
in that regard. If we can get to the buy
and with a pretty good record, this team in recent
years has a real history of turning it on in
the second half, and we should be getting some injured

(52:54):
players back for the second half of the season, so
this is really a critical part of the season for us.
It was great to get that big win in Seattle,
but this is another huge game.

Speaker 1 (53:03):
Yeah, absolutely, I know Niner fans can resonate with that
message as well as the team is dealing with their
own injuries and also overcoming some wins where they're like, hey,
how did that happen?

Speaker 2 (53:12):
And who's out there on the field.

Speaker 1 (53:13):
Well, Scott, the forty nine Ers defense has a reputation,
you know, for being fast and physical. From your perspective,
what will be the key for the Bucks offense to
move the ball efficiently against the Niners?

Speaker 14 (53:23):
Well, I got two answers. I'll take the low hanging
fruit first. I know everybody knows that turno versus are
often the key to games. Baker's only thrown one interception
so far this season. The Buccaneers are near the top
of the league in interception percentage on offense. And if
I'm not mistaken, as great as that San Francisco defense is,
as we know because we've played them each last three years, yeah,

(53:44):
I don't think you have an interception yet, if I'm
not mistaken. So if that trend, I hate I should
knock on wood because I probably just jinxed it. But
if we can continue those two trends, and then also
I just think the Bucks need well. The running game
has been pretty good. I think we need a little
more success on first down runs. Bucky Irving may again
be out. We don't know the answer to that yet.

(54:06):
Rashad White runs hard, but I would say that in
our last game against Seattle, we had a little bit
of difficulty getting into shorter third downs. And yeah, I
said earlier, we converted three third downs of more than
ten yards, but you can't count on that because we
had not converted a single one of those through our
first four games. So you need to get in to
more manageable third downs and a lot of time that
means getting more yards on first and second down runs.

Speaker 1 (54:29):
Yeah, well, just like you said, you know, Levanta David
was hungry for those interceptions. I know Fred Warner is
just as hungry after missing a couple of balls.

Speaker 2 (54:36):
But yeah, yeah, Casey.

Speaker 1 (54:38):
On the other side, how does Tampa Bay's defense game
plan for a player like Christian McCaffrey, especially with how
crafty kas Shanahan's offenses you know, can be.

Speaker 13 (54:48):
He's so challenging because at any given point he could
do anything right that that's what the NFL so often
is about, is can you disguise what you're about to do.
And it's like back when we had Gronk, we talked
about how great that was of Oh, you can have
him out there and it's not giving away if he's
going to be catching a pass, if he's going to
be blocking, are you running like it didn't give anything away?
And Christian obviously it's the same boat of where you

(55:08):
never know what he's going to do because he can
do it all.

Speaker 6 (55:10):
And I do think that's really challenging.

Speaker 13 (55:12):
Now, great news, Levante David been a really great solid
presence in the middle of the defense for a guy
like that or no matter what, he is able to
kind of see and has so much experience in the
vision of helping to the defense into what it's going
to look like. But I think that it's going to
be interesting to see the way that our defensive line
can try to step up to We are a stop
the run first team. I mean, I know every team
says that that's their priority, but that is Todd Bowls

(55:34):
bread and butter, and so at least if you do
have to force maybe Christian McCaffrey to be a little
bit more one dimensional, that would be huge. And we
lost Elijah Cansi earlier in the season, and even though
he's a little bit more of a pass rushing notoriety
kind of defensive lineman, he was really great against the
run as well. They've had to bring in some sign
some other guys off either practice squad or other teams,
and I think that to see is our defensive line

(55:56):
able to really be a force up front to at
least not give up too many breakout runs and yards
and stuff at the beginning, to get a couple of
tackles for lost, make them a little more one dimensional,
I think that'll be huge.

Speaker 14 (56:08):
Well, here's the thing, Todd Bowles defenses are always good
against the run, and we are good against the run
again this year. But the key to that defense against
the run is vitave a our nose tackle. He's in
the middle of the line. I think what we have
to worry about is Christian McCaffrey escaping space and the
bucks while the run defense has been good this year.
We have had a bit of an issue stopping opposing

(56:28):
running backs in the passing game, John Robinson. In particular
against Atlanta, they've stopped those top backs in terms of running,
but not necessarily in terms of pass catching. So somehow
containing Christian at least to some extent in the passing
game is going.

Speaker 3 (56:42):
To be the key.

Speaker 6 (56:43):
Yeah, no yak yards. Trying to get those open field
tackles as easier, hard as that may.

Speaker 1 (56:48):
Be, absolutely, now, that is a matchup that is definitely
going to make this game extremely interesting on Sunday. Lastly, Scott,
both of these teams sit at top of their divisions
at four and one. What will be the biggest deciding
factor in this game?

Speaker 14 (57:02):
Well, I think for the Buccaneers, we've seen it. We
need a fast start and the players say that every week,
and that's on both sides of the ball. We have
had difficulty this season on our first drives on defense
stopping the opposing team, and so we tend to get
in a hole. Now against Seattle that went much better
and we had a thirteen to zering lead and it

(57:22):
turned into a shootout in the second half. But had
we not produced that thirteen up and lead. I don't
think it would have been in position to win it
late in the game against a team that good. You know,
when we played the Jets, who are struggling, you could
win it at the end without a fast start, But
against a team like the forty nine Ers, I don't
think that's going to be possible. I think the Bucks
need to come out, they need to get in a
rhythm quickly on offense, and they need to try to

(57:45):
somehow not give up early points like they did last week.

Speaker 1 (57:48):
Yeah, Casey, your final thoughts, your expectations for San Francisco
coming into town?

Speaker 13 (57:53):
Oh boy, I mean, I think that it's going to
be a really interesting matchup because it feels a lot
like strength on strength in a lot of ways. And
then also ironically, these two teams, I think, more than
any other in the NFL, have so many similarities right
now in the situation of you have a lot of
star power, but you have a lot of stars injured
and very key people on both sides of the ball,

(58:13):
and how are you able to You know, everybody says
next man up, but like you know, there is not
another Nick Bosa, There is not another George could we've
had a similar situation where, yeah, we have a lot
of guys stepping up. I think it's going to be
almost in some ways a battle of who can really
take advantage of like having their backups play at a
higher level, because I think when it comes to the

(58:33):
star power level, it is very strength on strength and
so you know, how do you'r for us? You know,
especially depending on the injuries of how Rashad plays, but
then also how you're our secondary very banged up, you know,
how do those guys come out there and play. So
I think it's it may end up some ways being
a battle of the backups.

Speaker 1 (58:50):
Yeah, which man up will take it home? Well, Scott Casey,
this will definitely be a fun one. I'm excited to
see you guys in Tampa Bay this Sunday. But again,
thanks for joining me.

Speaker 14 (58:58):
Well, thank you Havanks for having us