September 4, 2024 • 40 mins
"Stew and the Crew" is hosted by Jonathan Stewart, the Carolina Panthers' all-time leading rusher, and Jeremy Kelley, Director of Legends Affairs. Together, they invite legendary guests to delve into the intricacies of the game and life after football. Panther legend and Hall of Honor member, Jake Delhomme, joins the guys to discuss his career path to Carolina, reminisce about his days playing in NFL Europe, share stories from their time playing together, preview this week's game vs the Saints and so much
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're the thirteenth pick in the two thousand and eight
NFL draft.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Karen Lenon half the select. Jonathan Stewart gives to Stewart,
He leaves touchdown. Stewart oh rough tough right, angry man
out at elbows, knees.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Stewart hesitates, accelerates. That's what I'm talking about. Fit the
spass ball football.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Conathan Stuart kyt running round. Stewart jump over a tackler
at the tenth flows up, Laura's his shoulder, keeps running.
No one will touch him. Jonathan Stewart House is it
you talk about explosive plays in the run game. It's
like the fourth of July around here. Right now you.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Are listening to Stu and the crew. Now to Jonathan
Stewarts and Jeremy Kelly.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Welcome to Stu and the Crew. I'm your host, Jonathan Stewart,
with my co host here, Jeremy Kelly. So glad that
you guys can join us today. We have a wonderful
surprise in Jake Delahane Delahmie Dahomie, Dahomie raising cage Louisiana's finest.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, Jake, how you doing man?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I'm doing great? Can't complain football week It just it can't.
It can't get here soon enough.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
But I've been.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Trying to prepare for this weekend's game, and it's so
hard to prepare with the preseason nowadays to actually prepare.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
So that's it's just it's uh, because is it because
there's nothing to watch?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
What do you watch?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I mean like you're trying to watch a little bit
and then And I'm very lucky to be honest, living
here in Louisiana, so I get a lot of Saints news.
You hear a lot on the talk radio and things
like that, so I do get a decent amount, which helps.
But if we'd be playing someone else, then you're just
you're searching, you're digging because you don't know what's going
to be used this weekend.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yeah, with your fourteen year, fourteen year NFL career, you
know you played for the Saints, right, So do you
have process to the Saints practices?
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Ever?
Speaker 6 (01:59):
Do you get invited to things like that?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Now?
Speaker 5 (02:02):
You know?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Listen, I think as most guys can you play on
different teams. The NFL, I think does a great job
for the alumni. They really get the alumni back and
I'm on a list with I still get emails from
the Cleveland Browns, Houston, Texas, New Orleans Saints about activities
for alumni and things like that.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Yeah, but I mean I only do Carolina stuff. No,
But you're exactly right.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
I think everybody does things like that. But uh, I
don't have access. I mean I live two hours from
New Orleans, and I'll be honest with you.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
I don't think that's something that I would do.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I just think there's a I think there's a line
you gotta draw, you know. I mean, that's I would
never do anything to I don't know, like give inside
information or things like that. I just don't think that's right.
But uh yeah, a lot of the people that are
still with the Saints in the front office and things,
those are still friends and I still see them. I'll
see them Sunday before the game. I might see them
(02:56):
in the off season. I would never do that to
those people. That's it's not the right thing.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
How lucky are you that the first game gets to
be in your backyard?
Speaker 6 (03:06):
Are you happy about that?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I'm not.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I'm not happy about it. I'll tell you why. This
is very selfish on my part. Oh, I get so
excited early in the season, like I can't wait to
travel and go, and like I love when it's in
Carolina for some reason. I love a game at home,
just getting to the stadium and feeling the vibe and
things like that.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
And I like playing the.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Saints later in the season because having to fly a
lot during the season, as most people, it kind of
gets a little old. But when you play the Saints
late in the season, it's like, oh wow, I don't
have to fly this week. This is an easy trip,
just in and out. And so I didn't like it
when I saw week one because I'm so anxious for
the season to start. Is that you know, it just
doesn't Yeah, I wish I could. Yeah, the travel can
(03:52):
get a little hectic some but listen, I'm gonna get
up bright and early and drive on over to New
Orleans and hopefully a very happy ride back home.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
So tell me why the University of the Louisiana at Lafayette.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Why go there?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I was offered by everybody in the state of Louisiana
except LSU. I got recruited. My brother played at McNee State,
which is in Louisiana. I got recruited heavily by them.
It came down to two schools. Two Lane and back
then shows my age, we were University of Southwestern Louisiana,
and then Louisiana kind of went to the Louisiana system
(04:30):
kind of like North Carolina IF UNC, Greensboro, UNC Charlotte
things like that. So it was between those two schools.
I got recruited by Army Navy Duke pretty heavily, and
I'm gonna be very honest. LSU recruited me until mid
December of my senior year, and it had I been
offered by LSU, I probably would have gone there. I
(04:51):
just think the flagship university of the state that's forty
five minutes from where I live and things like that.
But the decision was between Two Lane and and u
L and I decided to stay home and play for
a coach offensive coordinator. And this by far the best
decision that ever made. I'm glad I did.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
That's awesome. Like, tell me, so your journey uh to
the Carolinas. Let's let's talk about that, because I know
that you know, it wasn't all rosie for you know,
better words of use here, you know, being in NFL
Europe and going from you know, a little bit of
(05:31):
a journeyman, right.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
Was there any moment in time? Is there any moment of.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Time that you you know, were discouraged and almost you know,
maybe not have wanted to play this game anymore.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
I never not wanted to play the game. That never
came through my mind because I loved it. And yeah,
we all love sports and things like that.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
I loved practice.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
I loved everything about it.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
That's when I knew I really, really and truly loved
it because I just I love practice. I love everything
involved and things like that. And listen, started four years
in high school, started four years in college. I wasn't
red shirt, and I got thrown in at halftime about
the first game my freshman year, and then I'm undrafted.
I did very well in college, put up a lot
of yards and whatnot, but undrafted. So you kind of
(06:20):
feel like, and I didn't know any better. And you're
talking back this fall of nineteen ninety six. It's not
like the Internet was a happening thing. I mean, I
think dial up might have just been kind of starting.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, they didn't have nil, they didn't know what that well,
so I still had to land line any college dorm.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Didn't you landline?
Speaker 5 (06:37):
I had a landline my first few years in the league.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I mean, I want to say I got a cell
phone in nineteen ninety nine. I'm being serious. It's like
we But yeah, So go to camp with the Saints
and limited reps. Basically nine on seven is what I did.
I handed off to the running back. Didn't have many
passing reps besides someone on ones here and there. But
watching the other guys, I didn't think I was naive enough.
(07:02):
I thought, man, I'm the same size. I think my
arm's stronger than the majority of them. I think I
can throw it better than them. It's just you don't
say anything. It's not like nowadays where rookies talk. I
know in my day, you didn't say a word. You
kept your mouth shut, you ate lash, you sat at
the back of the bus. I mean like it was
just you just shut your mouth basically. And so as
(07:25):
it kind of went on, I was able to make
the practice squad that year. Then they send me an
NFL Europe to play, and that's where I was looking
forward to go and get some action and playing. And
I'm the backup in NFL Europe for the Amsterdam Admirals.
So that's what you kind of question, Am I good enough?
I mean, I can't even start in NFL Europe. Fast
(07:47):
forward a little bit long, and behold, I'm backing up
with a guy. I'm backing up a guy named Kurt Warner.
So I knew during camp, like, man, this guy's pretty good.
This guy got a quickerly. He's very very accurate. I
was twenty one at the time. He was twenty six.
He was a lot more probably mentally mature. He had
played three years of arena football, he had already played.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
In college in Northern Iowa.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
He went to camp with the Green Bay Packers. He
had gotten cut, and he didn't know what he was
going to do, and he did the whole arena league
deal for three years, was the MVP, and he was
given the NFL one more shot. He was a lot
more mature mentally and mentally ready than I was at
that time, and so and you couldn't help. But like
the guy, So I knew the guy was pretty darn good.
(08:30):
So anyway, don't play and then go back to training
camp with the Saints, and by fate, by luck would
have it, one of the quarterbacks gets hurt like the
Cestimore ligament in his foot rips.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
It like the first day of camp Heath Shuler, and.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
So I ended up getting a ton of reps and
I really did well with the reps that I was given,
and so I was able to continue on make the
roster for the first five or six weeks that year.
Then Kerry collin Carolina released him. They picked him up,
got back on practice squad. That was my second year.
Then they sent me back to the NFL Europe again
(09:07):
in the spring, and I played that year, did well
and we ended up winning the World League's back then
it was NFL Europe and so with Frankfurt Galaxy we wanted.
And then back in New Orleans, go to training camp.
They decide between Danny Wirthel and I. Danny beats me
out like Mike dick Gets told me, and I appreciate
him being honest. He goes, hey, am I keeping Danny
(09:29):
because I drafted him? Yeah? Probably so well, at least
it didn't lie to me. But I was brought back
middle part of that season and actually started two games
that year. And then a new coaching staff comes in,
Jim Hazli comes in and Mike McCarthy becomes our offensive coordinator.
It was his first time being a coordinator, and that
opened my eyes to the NFL football. I truly understood
right then and there what you're supposed to do in
(09:52):
the offseason, what you were supposed to do is as
a quarterback. In essence to get yourself ready to play.
We had Quarterbacks School, which was s having a five
Monday through thursdays starting March the first, and that lasted
until we broke camp.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
The middle to the latter part of June.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
And that opened minds to football, and from that point
on just felt very confident if ever I got an
opportunity to play, I'd be ready to go.
Speaker 7 (10:13):
As you mentioned, you were probably confident in your abilities. Man,
you had a great college career. You step into a
situation where you know, maybe you didn't have any expectations
and you could just go out and play right and
play free. And then you landed, like you said, you
got into it, got into assistant with a great head
coach and a quarterback minded coach that was going to
(10:35):
set you up for success, which is another piece to
the whole battle.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Right.
Speaker 7 (10:39):
So, uh, just an incredible story, man, as you as
you just talk about it.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Go ahead, you.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Get you get lucky.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
I mean I think you get lucky with I think
with a lot of young kids, and let's sake, quarterbacks,
especially nowadays, we throw these kids in.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
They're not ready to play. I mean there's just not
but the pressure.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
And with the way the media is and a fan base,
they always want the next guy in. And I mean
these guys.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
I was lucky in that regard.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I was able to sit for six years and watch
and know what to do and what not to do
things like that. I think that was the biggest thing
for me. I saw what I wanted to be whenever
I got an opportunity, and what I didn't want to be.
But I always knew if you just stay prepared no
matter what, that it's gonna happen. And then I owe
a lot to Mike McCarthy. I'll always say that Mike
(11:28):
was so hard on me, but in a good way. Demanding.
I had a quarterback tip sheet that I had to
do every week, and it was a I didn't want
to let him down. It was a challenge and I'll
never forget, like the first week it was like writing this,
I'm probably blowing it out blowing it up too much,
like just what this big essay? Just get making sure.
(11:48):
I mean I need I need this to pass this week.
And it was just every little thing and I wanted
to make sure it was right because I didn't want
to I'm hanging on by a thread. First of all,
I'm third string quarterback. I wanted to do what I
was supposed to do. And that was a big hit
that took off. But he never let me know how
much you appreciate it till later on. It was always yeah, okay,
(12:09):
it's not bad, but like make sure you have this,
make sure you have that, like the run tips, the
past tip, what pressure tips and things like that, and
that's something that I just took complete ownership of it.
But that made me mentally be so ready because there
was a couple of times that I had to play
during the course of that time that I went in
and it was like, got done it already. It was
I had known it, it was there. But I owe
(12:31):
a lot to him for that.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Yeah, yeah, again.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
No doubt, no doubt, no doubt. Well, when you have
somebody that trust or that gives you that ability, Hey,
I trust you, and you know it's that's a good feeling.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
I don't I don't think I have to tell you
guys that it's a good feeling.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Yeah, Like, what was your like NFL moment where you
felt oh, because I mean I love what you said
about No, your preparation and being ready, like gave you
all the confidence in the world going through the quarterback
schooling and just the hours and hours of preparation of
(13:08):
just feeling confident and you know, when your moment comes,
you'rena be ready.
Speaker 6 (13:13):
But what was that.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I think there's a couple I had some preseason moments,
and I think preseason was very, very different twenty years
ago than it is now because you actually played. I mean,
the general rule of thumb was the starters played the
first quarter in the first game, up into the second
quarter in the second game. You played up until halftime
in the third game. That's just kind of how it went.
(13:37):
And there was a couple of times in Carolina Jeff
Blake was the starter, Aaron Brooks was the backup, and
then the next year it was Aaron Brooks and Jeff
Blake those two. I was always going to be the three,
and I knew that, so they played me a ton
in the preseason, and I played early in the games
and it just the game was slow. The game moves
slow in front of my eyes, and so I just
(14:00):
you felt like you were ready. But I think the
biggest one to me, we played Tampa Bay in two
thousand and two. I'm in New Orleans on the backup.
That's the year Tampa won the Super Bowl. They were
loaded on defense, and we have the lead and we're
beating them. And then Aaron Brooks had hurt his shoulders
a few weeks earlier, a little Rotator cup deal, and
he was managing through it, but I guess it tightened
(14:22):
up on him during the course of the game. And
so I'm in and we're up, and we're trying to
run out the clock, and so we get the ball
back to Tampa. Say it's a too many warning and
like a timeout. So if we get a first down,
games over. And so sure enough, eight in the box,
who run the ball? Eight in the box run the ball? Well,
then it's third and like two or three, and I figured,
we're running it again. We're making them use all their timeouts,
(14:44):
and we're just gonna trust our defense. And I'll never
forget Mike McCarthy on the sideline. He called the play.
I left ninety three lead z key, and right when
he said that, I remember I'm walking into the huddle.
I stopped and I turned and I looked through the
sideline and the z key was the opportunity to pick
up the ball and throw it out to Joe Horn
(15:04):
j C.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
Horns to Dade and the key.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
That game was a slant. We changed it up. We
used to call it smoke or whatnot in Carolina, but
this was a slant. And I'll never forget in four
minute situation, you take that off, you don't have that.
So the ball didn't get put on the ground, so
the playfoff can run. And I'll never forget when I
looked through the sideline and he was waiting for me
to look back at it, and when I looked, he
(15:28):
was staring directly and it was like time froze, and
he goes, I'm trusting you, and right then and there
like he wouldn't have done that, And so I had
the opportunity. Okay, if it's down there, if it's there,
I'm throwing it. And sure enough they load eight in
the box and I had to reverse out on the play.
The ninety three to the left, so I have to
reverse out when I formation, and I could see it
(15:49):
was Lynch that walk down into the box. So he's
in the box and I'm like, if I'm taking a
step and I'm a glance, if he moves inside to
go on the run the slant swaddle.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
Well, sure enough, I make it.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I turned and when I look back, I mean it
is just and he's wide open. Joe runners slam. I
throw and I hit him between the eight and the
seven first down. Crowd goes nuts, and I never forget.
Mike Shepard, my quarterback coach, after the game, was like, Buddy,
you don't understand how huge that was. And I said, coach,
he was wide open. I mean that, I said, he goes.
You don't understand. You can't miss the layup in that spot.
(16:25):
Many people will miss the layup. And it didn't register
to me at that time. It didn't, but I had
done it, like we had practiced. I was ready, and
it's like the game, you know, I just it was time.
But listen, that was years. That wasn't just Oh. I
practiced well for a couple of weeks. That was built
up of years of preparation. And to look back and
(16:47):
Mike like, I trust you, you know.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
What I mean?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
That was huge.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
That was big for me, A big confidence booster for me.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
That's awesome, man, because it's definitely you know, missing those
I always think to myself, Man, he was wide open. Yeah,
like me, I'm thinking to myself, man, what if he
would have missed that pass or what if he would
have dropped that ball. I remember one time we played
the Saints and it was Jimmy Clawson's first touched I
was Jimmy Clauson's first touchdown throw and it was broken
(17:13):
coverage and I was out there just basically being you know,
I don't know, disguise, I don't know. I was just
out there whenever I go out into this, you know,
to spread the I'm a decoy.
Speaker 7 (17:30):
That just Muhammad feels away about that word. We can
tell that story. Jake knows what I'm talking.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Yeah, But like when I'm out there on an island
with whoever's covering me, they know I'm not getting the ball,
so I just take off running and next thing you know,
I'm wide open and Jimmy Clauson throws me the ball
and I'm thinking to myself, Wow, We're in New Orleans,
so the lighting and all that kind of stuff. This
(17:58):
is my first time catching a a go route and
it was underthrown and so I had to come back
to the ball. And when I came back, I was like, oh,
this is I'm wide open. I caught it and then
I looked around and then I just took off running
and then I got tripped. I tripped because I was
(18:18):
basically trying to like run really fast, but I didn't
really need to run fast. It was like that in
between of not knowing what I was doing. Bro almost
almost messed that.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Up too much time to look at the ball, like.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
You're just thinking about it, Man, you better catch this.
I cradled it. I didn't catch it with my hands.
I cradled it. I didn't want to mess it up.
It was his first touchdown son. Yeah, man, but when when?
But going back to that, if I was practicing go
routes and catching go routes all the time, I wouldn't
have even thought about it.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
It would have just happened.
Speaker 7 (18:49):
But I got to go back. I got to go back.
Since you that's that That is a great story. But
but the word decoy, i'd have heard this story from
the sore, but I need to hear from a quarterback's perspective.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Okay, I was not in Carolina at the time. I
just this was this was no but I'd heard about it.
I believe this was the George Sea for days or
day and I think that was the one in fifteen season.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
And uh, I was told number eighty seven with sim
Mohammed put duct table over his name on his practice
jersey and he put decoy.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Someone wasn't someone wasn't happy with the Monto touches he
was getting here for.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Just because I don't know. I mean, I've played with
Moose and Steve, and I'm gonna be very honest, I
don't think neither one complained too much about getting the
ball because you got to you got to throw them
to football. Those two guys can help you win.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
That's right.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
And haven't haven't gotten no Moose, you know, pretty intimately
over the past year and a half. It makes it
even funnier because he is, you cool, calm, collect cat
that you almost wouldn't see him being that type of
guy Boister is calling attention to.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
But also the brother's competitive.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
And he's confident, and he's confident receivers they have to have.
You rarely see the receivers that are not this big
personality that's few and far between, you know, it really
and truly is. And uh, I was lucky. Man. I
have so many people that ask, you know when you
see some of these other receivers, the man this, the
(20:34):
man that, and like Steven, who's I mean, those guys
came to practice every day. I mean, Moose is out
of practice early every day, Richie Williamson throwing him these passes, Smitty,
the way he took care of his body. It was
just those guys came to play and they wanted to play,
and they wanted to win, and they blocked for each other.
I'm watching video of the Saints earlier today for this weekend,
(20:57):
and you don't watch. I'm not gonna call out a name,
but I'm watching somebody a receiver and I'm like, yeah,
you gotta dig in and block this safety.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
I mean that that there's positive runs.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
And I'm like, you know what, we didn't have that
much in Carolina. You know, Moose would come in and
try to capitate a safety and Steve would come in
and try to capitate one. And I'm seeing somebody that
really truly didn't want to block.
Speaker 7 (21:17):
So yeah, yeah, you were blessed. You were blessed. I mean,
you know you mentioned those two guys. You think about
a Ricky Proll, you think it just tough Jersey Cats,
smart knows how to play the game. You know, we
got to talk to Ricky last week on the podcast.
He's just I mean, you could talk to Ricky's exceptional, right,
He's just.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Great player, great coach.
Speaker 7 (21:38):
But but man to your point, you had a great,
great receiver. R You had a great receiver, and there's
probably a couple of Cats that we could mention as
well going back. You know, and then if you look
at a tight end position too, right, So I mean
you were stacked.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
You were stacked.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Yeah, we were. You know, I wish, I wish I
could have played. And it's no, I'm not talking about
the other guys we played with. But like Coach Fox,
the tight ends we had, he just those tight ends
were supposed to be there to block.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
It wasn't like.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
The Wesley Walls who could run and get open. It
wasn't like the Greg Olsen because those two guys are
pretty darn similar. I mean, those guys are big and long,
and they could run, and they could run. I wouldn't luck,
you know, I missed those guys, you know, and we
had more of the UH coach fox if you look
at it. You know, Chris Mangum was a starter, seventh
round pick. Jermaine Wiggins I believe was undrafted, you know. Yeah,
(22:32):
Jeff King was another one fifth round, sixth round pick. Yeah.
So we had those guys that were just it wasn't
like these were these elite speed guys and things like that.
Just tough, hard nose, tight end, can play full back
if you need, h back if you need. That was
kind of you know, our money was spent in the
running back room, some o line wide receivers and then
(22:53):
on defense.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Speaking of speed, I don't think anyone knows how fast.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
You are, Jake, know what you're trying to be funny.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Listen, check this out. Got a story. So two thousand
and nine, you'll remember this. We're playing the Redskins at home.
Oh yeah, we were running the ball pretty well, and
you know, four minute drill for everybody is basically an
opportunity for you know, the offense to close out a
(23:23):
game and run out the clock and as a running
back offensive lineman. We lived for that moment, and I
remember like the level of execution for this boot what
we baked it to the left.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
It was outside outside zone of some sort of it.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
It was a run play and I just kept it.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
Oh that's what it was, And that's.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Because it was there were crashing crash, but we had
I think we had can recall if I told Steve
or not, hey, because you wanted to, like mentioned, hey,
be prepared, I might keep it. You know. You wanted
to give him that because he's coming down just to
try to get forced. But on something like that, he
wants to come and then make as if there's the
corner out there, just get getting his way, you know.
(24:12):
But I can't remember if I told him or not.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Okay, that makes a lot of sense now because I'm
like thinking about this play and I carried out the
fake as if I had the ball like that. In
my mind, I'm like, either I have I'm supposed to
have this ball, or I'm just doing a great fake
right now because at this point he.
Speaker 6 (24:27):
Has the ball still. And I just remember I think
I jogged.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
I just jogged up to the left of their sideline
and I'm looking at the big I'm looking at the
big screen, at the jumbo tron, and I see Jake
just take off running so fast. I mean not like
lightning fast for anyone hearing this, but like for him,
for Jake speed, this was like his horse is running,
(24:53):
you know, to the finish line. And basically, man, you
get you lower your shoulder and it was Hall defensive back,
uhel Hall. But she's what she's on the staff here now.
And you drag him, Bro, you drag him across. Then
(25:15):
you had an angle, but you dragged him.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
You dragged him.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
I was able to get the first No, don't be
hung take what it is. It worked out. That was
one of my few highlights.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
I will tell you. I will tell you this.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
That moment was a moment for me because I was like, man,
our quarterback is crazy, like because you got up and
you were speaking occasion You're like, yeah, got dark, get
like and and your your shoulder pad was all jacked
up like I think.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
I think my chin strap was like covered over right here,
no doubt.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
But there was no way we were going to lose
that game. And it was all because of you, man.
Speaker 4 (26:02):
So that was one of my most memorable moments because
you know, sometimes quarterbacks got to put it on the line.
And speaking of quarterbacks, we have Bryce Young, a lot
of young quarterbacks in this league. I want to know
your take on, you know, the expectations that are set
on these younger quarterbacks. You kind of spoke about it
(26:24):
earlier as far as like how your situation went where
you had time. A lot of these quarterbacks are coming
in and the expectations are the are for them to
be the next Patrick Mahomes out the gate and not
even Patrick Mahomes had to do that out the gate, right,
So what's your take on where we are with football
and the quarterback position.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Let's not be very honest with you. I think this
is year one for Bryce. This is how I'm looking
at it. You look at last year, first overall, pick
doesn't really have a true number one receiver. We had
to give give up Dj Moore give up to be
able to get Bryce, some of the assets to get Bryce.
And then there's expectations that kind of go through the roof.
(27:07):
But we started fifteen different combinations at the guard position
last year. That's not healthy. We didn't, i mean, have
three different play callers. I mean it just it wasn't
a good little talk.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Didn't happen. It was tough.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
He got sacked sixty two times and he got out
of I promise you he got out of fourteen to
eighteen sacks. I'll never forget Todd Bowles when we played
them late in the year. Todd, who I think is
such an underrated coach, and I love listening to him
talk because you want to talk about not pulling any punches.
And Todd basically said some about Bryce's size and he
(27:47):
looked at the person he was like, have you watched
him this year?
Speaker 5 (27:51):
He's got sacked sixty two times, He's gotten out of
about twenty others.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
He goes this guy the toughness issue. That's not It
was just one of those deals. It's one of those
years that had happened. So listen and going to Bryce.
I'm looking forward to this year to get in a
true sense of what I believe he is. I truly
believe he's an accurate, accurate passer that has great anticipation,
(28:16):
and I think you're gonna see that this year.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
There's still gonna be growing pains in my opinion. Hopefully
I'm wrong. Hopefully we skip a lot of growing pains.
That's just part of it. Man.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
We were a two win football team last year, Okay,
so I do expect to see some big improvement. We've
shored up some offensive line. I think we're going to
be a heavy run football team. We've added some weapons
to help him. But we've had some injuries that tied in.
I mean, a couple of the guys really hadn't practiced much.
So I mean we're gonna have to like just slow progress,
(28:46):
and so much is gonna be made about the whole.
CJ Stroud and God bless him. He did great last year, CJ.
But it seemed like everything kind of hit. They hit
on Tank Dale in the third round, fantastic receiver, Nico
the third round pick from a few years prior, came
into his own, Dalton Schultz from Dallas in his prime.
(29:07):
The offensive line, they had two stud offensive tackles going
into the season, and CJ did a great job and
Demiko that right mix. The defense had just came together.
But I also remember we played Houston last year. We
played them in Bank of American Stadium and we beat them.
And I'll be honest with you, go back and watch
the game. Bryce played better than CJ that day, So
(29:27):
I've seen it happen. It's just it's just, you know,
we had a rough year. So I'm anxious to see
growth from him. I think we're gonna see that, and
I anticipate him doing some really good things. Saw snippet
saw him for one drive in the preseason. But I
think some of those elements they showed up. The accuracy,
(29:48):
the anticipation, the maneuverability in the pocket, moving in, moving
up in the pocket, getting to his left, hitting Deontay
Johnson for the on the fourth down play, going out
to his right, hit Adam Sealing when he scrambling into
the right and is before Adam even drops his hips
to turn to catch the ball, hits him, hits him
on the right shoulder, talking to him, telling him to
(30:08):
go that way, and Adam does that.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
The touchdown pass the Jordan Matthews are blown coverage and his.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Foot he sees it, immediately puts his foot in the
ground and lets the ball go for the touchdown. So
I think some of those pieces are there.
Speaker 7 (30:19):
Yes, you know you going back, you you you bring
up great points, man, And when you think about I
think we're in a league and in a market of
instant gratification, right, people are paying so much attention to
what other teams are doing and this guy right and now,
as a rookie quarterback, if one quarterback in the class
(30:39):
before you comes in and does it, that's a new expectation.
Now that's the bar when really it's so unfair because
there's so many you know, again, if we were to
go back, if all the drafts.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
And season games last year, CJ.
Speaker 8 (30:54):
Stroud they played the Patriots, yes, look, yes, yes the loss. Right, Yeah,
Drake made the first preseason game this year.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
All you hear about all the pundits, Oh my gosh,
how bad of a pick did they make? And then
three weeks later, oh he should be starting over.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
It's because with all the podcasts and all the things
that people have access to, everyone's a guru.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Now.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
That's the difference now is we weren't hearing the people
that don't know what they're talking about. We weren't hearing
these people ten years ago. Now we're hearing them because
they have access to the resources to be able to
be heard. I will say, though Caleb Williams has a
very special situation. I don't really know what their offensive
lines looking at looking like right now, but Roma Dunze, Keenan,
(31:42):
DJ Moore comet at tight end. They added DeAndre Swift
that in my mind, that might be the best rookie
quarterback situation to ever walk into in the history of football.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Right to come forward right now.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Hey, listen, it's a fantastic situation. Wait for him to
come into and just look at it.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
Keenan Allen has been a number one DJ Moore is.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
The number one Roma Dunesday's drafted to be the number
one co comet Segon. I think it was a second
round pick, but they're paying him like he's the heck
of a receiver and tied end. So there's a ton
of weapons and listen, they they want to build for
success in that way, and that's great and all I
hope the offensive line can can hold up for them
because Chicago weather. Yeah, we all know it's going to
(32:28):
get a little difficult, but it comes into a great
situation with some big time football players that can make
plays for him, some security blankets.
Speaker 7 (32:35):
Speaking of old line man, we almost skipped over it.
And as you mentioned that, you know the sacks that
Brace experience last year. You're talking about sharing up the
offensive line with the moves that we may got our
own raised ocasion. Robert Hunt. Yah, I can tell you
this is one of the first things noticed we come
back from this offseason. The size of the offensive line
here in Carolina is drastic, drastically different.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
When when we came down for the we had a
little get together with the ex players right about a
month ago production and we went the production day. We
went on the field to watch that practice on Saturday morning.
And I've been on Hunt since I was eighteen years old,
but I never forget. We're in the end zone, sweets area,
we're visited with the fans and stuff, and the offense
(33:18):
goes out in the field and they lined up and
Austin Corbyn lined up at center and he looked small.
When I saw that, I said to myself, Okay, this
is good, because that is not Austin is not a
small human being. But when you had Hunt lined up
next to them, and then you have Ikey and then
Taylor and then Deep, I mean it was just like
left here we go.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
You know, he is noticeably different.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
Yeah, Well, before before we get out of here, give
us your three keys to victory for the Saints playing
or the Panthers playing the Saints this weekend, twelve o'clock
your time, it's here.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Yeah, well, listen, I think the number one thing, well,
special teams. What's gonna I mean, are we're kicking it
through the end zone? What are we gonna do? Like
you tell me somebody that knows, and I'm gonna call
him and ask them. I don't know how that's gonna
play out, So the special team's part, I just don't know.
But listen, it's gonna start up front. It's gonna definitely
(34:15):
start up front on both sides of the ball. But
I think we need to establish to run and we're
gonna try to run the football and establish a run.
Speaker 5 (34:22):
Coach Canalis wants to do that. We need to do that,
and that all leads to turnovers.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
What is it like if you have one turnover, it's
a seventy eight percent or something like that chance you
lose the game if the plus a minus one turnover battle.
And then on the defensive side of the ball. Kubiak,
son of Gary Kubiak, comes from the whole, Mike Shanahan,
Gary Kubiak, Kyle Shanahan. That tree they want to run
outside zone, and they want to run the football as
(34:48):
much as they can and create those stretch the defense,
those big windows in the passing game after you run
the football. So we gotta run it and we gotta
stop it, and it's gonna come down the turnovers. I mean,
Listen can say that about every game, but truly, in
Week one, not knowing exactly what everybody's gonna do, there's
gonna be new wrinkles every team's practicing. I'm assuming we've
(35:08):
been practicing something for two to three weeks that we
haven't shown in the preseason that you just don't know.
And so execution. But who's gonna make a play? I
mean the NFL comes it comes down to making plays.
I mean, which guys make make plays?
Speaker 7 (35:22):
I feel Week one is just a heavy momentum game.
Playbooks are gonna open up. Like you said, there's not
a lot of tape on this year's team, and it's
gonna be whoever has keep the momentum longer.
Speaker 6 (35:32):
I agree. Well, thanks Jake for the time.
Speaker 5 (35:35):
This is another thing that's key this week.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
There is so much angst amongst Saints fans in regards
to Dennis Allen and Derek Carr, I mean, listen that
there's some tension there. If we can like get up,
take over any kickoff, go down, score, get eternal, get
something to happen. I'm just telling you that Super Doma
is gonna turn and turn fast. That that is something
(35:59):
because Spencer Rattler had a great preseason and especially the
last game he really threw some really good balls and
you're just starting to hear already they just need to
put Spencer Ratler in. They need to put Spencer. So
I'm just telling you that's something that we're gonna have
to watch. This super Dome could turn pretty darn quick
if we can get some momentum. So that's gonna be.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
Key, especially with Saints having a terrible offensive line. If
Carr can't maneuver in the pocket, it's gonna be it
might be.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
That's why I think they're gonna run the football, and
I think they're gonna try to, you know, establish the run,
especially with Koobiak and what they like to do with
that outside zone running game.
Speaker 6 (36:33):
Yeah all right, man, Well, thank you for your time.
Speaker 7 (36:36):
Jake.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
Appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
Jake always, I appreciate you guys having Honor Hall of
Honor member one of the original and just thank you
for your time.
Speaker 6 (36:46):
Everyone.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Make sure you tune in to Jake as he covers
the Panthers this year. He's doing amazing things.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
Can I finish one thing? You know you'll ask me
a question about my come to the NFL moment, and
here it is.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
You know, when I knew Jonathan Stewart had his coming
to the NFL moment that I knew that he might
not have known, but I knew right then and there, yeah,
this is gonna be good. The third preseason game his
rookie year, we played the Washington Commanders and he broke
off a sixty seventy yard run down the left side line.
(37:27):
Am I correct on that? Kay, We knew the speed,
the burst and all that. We had a pass play
later on in that game. I want to say it's
the first drive of the third quarter because we came
out of half to go on a drive and I
was under center.
Speaker 5 (37:42):
And both linebackers.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Mugged up and they were gonna, they were gonna, they
were gonna pressure. So right then and there, I went
back into the shotgun. I gave an easy, easy call
rank so everybody knew, hold up. I got back in
the shotgun. And when that happened, it changed what the
offensive line we're gonna do instead of squeezing down. Now
that I got in the shotgun, they were going to
stay on there, big men. And I was putting number
(38:04):
twenty eight, Jonathan Stewart on one of their linebackers. Jonathan
was gonna block him, so I backed up and he
leaned in and I changed it, and he knew, like
right when I went to tell him who to block,
he was telling me the number like he knew it.
But sure enough, snap and I don't pay attention because
there's trust there. And I think I throw out to
Dante Rosario for a big play. It might have been
(38:24):
a touchdown pass. I can't recall, but I threw it.
Speaker 6 (38:27):
Let's call it a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Stewie hit that linebacker in the face and stunned him
and exactly, and it was right then and there you knew, like, yeah, okay,
this is gonna for a rookie running back. Because that's
the one thing about running backs. They're so talented, they're
not they don't have to block in high school and
in college, they don't have to block. You here, take
the ball and go run. I mean that's kind of
(38:50):
usually what you get.
Speaker 6 (38:51):
Yeah, Coach Skip did a really good job.
Speaker 4 (38:53):
Every every meeting was basically going over protecting the quarterback
because if the quarterback is laying on his back, that
means somebody is getting fired.
Speaker 6 (39:02):
And it wasn't right there.
Speaker 5 (39:04):
We all we knew, Okay, we got one and lucky
lo and behold we had two.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
We had him and D'Angelo. So yeah, it made my
job very easy.
Speaker 6 (39:12):
Well, man, love that. That was a great outro.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Man.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Really appreciate you, dude, Like I wouldn't be the pro
that I am without having a quarterback like yourself, because
there's a lot of you know, details that you knew
that I didn't have going into certain situations and just
being able to have that quarterback relay in the in
the huddle, you know things like, hey, you got the
(39:35):
flat and I might know I have the flat, but
it's always good to have reassurance. And that's what's really
good about who you are is you're a person that
sees a situation for what it is and you don't
mind giving input where it needs to be given.
Speaker 5 (39:51):
So well, we're all in. We're all in it together.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
I think that's the biggest thing, like you're all in
it together. If you don't know what you're supposed to
do or if somebody's I mean, that's just just the
way it goes, man, I mean that's yeah. That was
your best football teams, you know, the ones that just
kind of they just took over for each other and
things like that. Man, those are and hopefully we can
get to that way because Bryce he has that. He's
got that ability to kind of see it and do it.
(40:15):
He did it in the last preseason game. Play clock
was running down, he aborted the fake, aborted the motion
real quick. Called him in his eyes. I mean you
don't see any whites in his eyes, he's just looking
called him in, got him sick. I mean like he
has that.
Speaker 5 (40:27):
So I'm looking forward to to some a big jump,
all right, man, Thank you guys,
We're the thirteenth pick in the two thousand and eight
NFL draft.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Karen Lenon half the select. Jonathan Stewart gives to Stewart,
He leaves touchdown. Stewart oh rough tough right, angry man
out at elbows, knees.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Stewart hesitates, accelerates. That's what I'm talking about. Fit the
spass ball football.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Conathan Stuart kyt running round. Stewart jump over a tackler
at the tenth flows up, Laura's his shoulder, keeps running.
No one will touch him. Jonathan Stewart House is it
you talk about explosive plays in the run game. It's
like the fourth of July around here. Right now you.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Are listening to Stu and the crew. Now to Jonathan
Stewarts and Jeremy Kelly.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Welcome to Stu and the Crew. I'm your host, Jonathan Stewart,
with my co host here, Jeremy Kelly. So glad that
you guys can join us today. We have a wonderful
surprise in Jake Delahane Delahmie Dahomie, Dahomie raising cage Louisiana's finest.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, Jake, how you doing man?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I'm doing great? Can't complain football week It just it can't.
It can't get here soon enough.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
But I've been.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Trying to prepare for this weekend's game, and it's so
hard to prepare with the preseason nowadays to actually prepare.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
So that's it's just it's uh, because is it because
there's nothing to watch?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
What do you watch?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I mean like you're trying to watch a little bit
and then And I'm very lucky to be honest, living
here in Louisiana, so I get a lot of Saints news.
You hear a lot on the talk radio and things
like that, so I do get a decent amount, which helps.
But if we'd be playing someone else, then you're just
you're searching, you're digging because you don't know what's going
to be used this weekend.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yeah, with your fourteen year, fourteen year NFL career, you
know you played for the Saints, right, So do you
have process to the Saints practices?
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Ever?
Speaker 6 (01:59):
Do you get invited to things like that?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Now?
Speaker 5 (02:02):
You know?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Listen, I think as most guys can you play on
different teams. The NFL, I think does a great job
for the alumni. They really get the alumni back and
I'm on a list with I still get emails from
the Cleveland Browns, Houston, Texas, New Orleans Saints about activities
for alumni and things like that.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Yeah, but I mean I only do Carolina stuff. No,
But you're exactly right.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
I think everybody does things like that. But uh, I
don't have access. I mean I live two hours from
New Orleans, and I'll be honest with you.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
I don't think that's something that I would do.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I just think there's a I think there's a line
you gotta draw, you know. I mean, that's I would
never do anything to I don't know, like give inside
information or things like that. I just don't think that's right.
But uh yeah, a lot of the people that are
still with the Saints in the front office and things,
those are still friends and I still see them. I'll
see them Sunday before the game. I might see them
(02:56):
in the off season. I would never do that to
those people. That's it's not the right thing.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
How lucky are you that the first game gets to
be in your backyard?
Speaker 6 (03:06):
Are you happy about that?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I'm not.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I'm not happy about it. I'll tell you why. This
is very selfish on my part. Oh, I get so
excited early in the season, like I can't wait to
travel and go, and like I love when it's in
Carolina for some reason. I love a game at home,
just getting to the stadium and feeling the vibe and
things like that.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
And I like playing the.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Saints later in the season because having to fly a
lot during the season, as most people, it kind of
gets a little old. But when you play the Saints
late in the season, it's like, oh wow, I don't
have to fly this week. This is an easy trip,
just in and out. And so I didn't like it
when I saw week one because I'm so anxious for
the season to start. Is that you know, it just
doesn't Yeah, I wish I could. Yeah, the travel can
(03:52):
get a little hectic some but listen, I'm gonna get
up bright and early and drive on over to New
Orleans and hopefully a very happy ride back home.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
So tell me why the University of the Louisiana at Lafayette.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Why go there?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I was offered by everybody in the state of Louisiana
except LSU. I got recruited. My brother played at McNee State,
which is in Louisiana. I got recruited heavily by them.
It came down to two schools. Two Lane and back
then shows my age, we were University of Southwestern Louisiana,
and then Louisiana kind of went to the Louisiana system
(04:30):
kind of like North Carolina IF UNC, Greensboro, UNC Charlotte
things like that. So it was between those two schools.
I got recruited by Army Navy Duke pretty heavily, and
I'm gonna be very honest. LSU recruited me until mid
December of my senior year, and it had I been
offered by LSU, I probably would have gone there. I
(04:51):
just think the flagship university of the state that's forty
five minutes from where I live and things like that.
But the decision was between Two Lane and and u
L and I decided to stay home and play for
a coach offensive coordinator. And this by far the best
decision that ever made. I'm glad I did.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
That's awesome. Like, tell me, so your journey uh to
the Carolinas. Let's let's talk about that, because I know
that you know, it wasn't all rosie for you know,
better words of use here, you know, being in NFL
Europe and going from you know, a little bit of
(05:31):
a journeyman, right.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
Was there any moment in time? Is there any moment of.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Time that you you know, were discouraged and almost you know,
maybe not have wanted to play this game anymore.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
I never not wanted to play the game. That never
came through my mind because I loved it. And yeah,
we all love sports and things like that.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
I loved practice.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
I loved everything about it.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
That's when I knew I really, really and truly loved
it because I just I love practice. I love everything
involved and things like that. And listen, started four years
in high school, started four years in college. I wasn't
red shirt, and I got thrown in at halftime about
the first game my freshman year, and then I'm undrafted.
I did very well in college, put up a lot
of yards and whatnot, but undrafted. So you kind of
(06:20):
feel like, and I didn't know any better. And you're
talking back this fall of nineteen ninety six. It's not
like the Internet was a happening thing. I mean, I
think dial up might have just been kind of starting.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, they didn't have nil, they didn't know what that well,
so I still had to land line any college dorm.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Didn't you landline?
Speaker 5 (06:37):
I had a landline my first few years in the league.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I mean, I want to say I got a cell
phone in nineteen ninety nine. I'm being serious. It's like
we But yeah, So go to camp with the Saints
and limited reps. Basically nine on seven is what I did.
I handed off to the running back. Didn't have many
passing reps besides someone on ones here and there. But
watching the other guys, I didn't think I was naive enough.
(07:02):
I thought, man, I'm the same size. I think my
arm's stronger than the majority of them. I think I
can throw it better than them. It's just you don't
say anything. It's not like nowadays where rookies talk. I
know in my day, you didn't say a word. You
kept your mouth shut, you ate lash, you sat at
the back of the bus. I mean like it was
just you just shut your mouth basically. And so as
(07:25):
it kind of went on, I was able to make
the practice squad that year. Then they send me an
NFL Europe to play, and that's where I was looking
forward to go and get some action and playing. And
I'm the backup in NFL Europe for the Amsterdam Admirals.
So that's what you kind of question, Am I good enough?
I mean, I can't even start in NFL Europe. Fast
(07:47):
forward a little bit long, and behold, I'm backing up
with a guy. I'm backing up a guy named Kurt Warner.
So I knew during camp, like, man, this guy's pretty good.
This guy got a quickerly. He's very very accurate. I
was twenty one at the time. He was twenty six.
He was a lot more probably mentally mature. He had
played three years of arena football, he had already played.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
In college in Northern Iowa.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
He went to camp with the Green Bay Packers. He
had gotten cut, and he didn't know what he was
going to do, and he did the whole arena league
deal for three years, was the MVP, and he was
given the NFL one more shot. He was a lot
more mature mentally and mentally ready than I was at
that time, and so and you couldn't help. But like
the guy, So I knew the guy was pretty darn good.
(08:30):
So anyway, don't play and then go back to training
camp with the Saints, and by fate, by luck would
have it, one of the quarterbacks gets hurt like the
Cestimore ligament in his foot rips.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
It like the first day of camp Heath Shuler, and.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
So I ended up getting a ton of reps and
I really did well with the reps that I was given,
and so I was able to continue on make the
roster for the first five or six weeks that year.
Then Kerry collin Carolina released him. They picked him up,
got back on practice squad. That was my second year.
Then they sent me back to the NFL Europe again
(09:07):
in the spring, and I played that year, did well
and we ended up winning the World League's back then
it was NFL Europe and so with Frankfurt Galaxy we wanted.
And then back in New Orleans, go to training camp.
They decide between Danny Wirthel and I. Danny beats me
out like Mike dick Gets told me, and I appreciate
him being honest. He goes, hey, am I keeping Danny
(09:29):
because I drafted him? Yeah? Probably so well, at least
it didn't lie to me. But I was brought back
middle part of that season and actually started two games
that year. And then a new coaching staff comes in,
Jim Hazli comes in and Mike McCarthy becomes our offensive coordinator.
It was his first time being a coordinator, and that
opened my eyes to the NFL football. I truly understood
right then and there what you're supposed to do in
(09:52):
the offseason, what you were supposed to do is as
a quarterback. In essence to get yourself ready to play.
We had Quarterbacks School, which was s having a five
Monday through thursdays starting March the first, and that lasted
until we broke camp.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
The middle to the latter part of June.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
And that opened minds to football, and from that point
on just felt very confident if ever I got an
opportunity to play, I'd be ready to go.
Speaker 7 (10:13):
As you mentioned, you were probably confident in your abilities. Man,
you had a great college career. You step into a
situation where you know, maybe you didn't have any expectations
and you could just go out and play right and
play free. And then you landed, like you said, you
got into it, got into assistant with a great head
coach and a quarterback minded coach that was going to
(10:35):
set you up for success, which is another piece to
the whole battle.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Right.
Speaker 7 (10:39):
So, uh, just an incredible story, man, as you as
you just talk about it.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Go ahead, you.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Get you get lucky.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
I mean I think you get lucky with I think
with a lot of young kids, and let's sake, quarterbacks,
especially nowadays, we throw these kids in.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
They're not ready to play. I mean there's just not
but the pressure.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
And with the way the media is and a fan base,
they always want the next guy in. And I mean
these guys.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
I was lucky in that regard.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I was able to sit for six years and watch
and know what to do and what not to do
things like that. I think that was the biggest thing
for me. I saw what I wanted to be whenever
I got an opportunity, and what I didn't want to be.
But I always knew if you just stay prepared no
matter what, that it's gonna happen. And then I owe
a lot to Mike McCarthy. I'll always say that Mike
(11:28):
was so hard on me, but in a good way. Demanding.
I had a quarterback tip sheet that I had to
do every week, and it was a I didn't want
to let him down. It was a challenge and I'll
never forget, like the first week it was like writing this,
I'm probably blowing it out blowing it up too much,
like just what this big essay? Just get making sure.
(11:48):
I mean I need I need this to pass this week.
And it was just every little thing and I wanted
to make sure it was right because I didn't want
to I'm hanging on by a thread. First of all,
I'm third string quarterback. I wanted to do what I
was supposed to do. And that was a big hit
that took off. But he never let me know how
much you appreciate it till later on. It was always yeah, okay,
(12:09):
it's not bad, but like make sure you have this,
make sure you have that, like the run tips, the
past tip, what pressure tips and things like that, and
that's something that I just took complete ownership of it.
But that made me mentally be so ready because there
was a couple of times that I had to play
during the course of that time that I went in
and it was like, got done it already. It was
I had known it, it was there. But I owe
(12:31):
a lot to him for that.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Yeah, yeah, again.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
No doubt, no doubt, no doubt. Well, when you have
somebody that trust or that gives you that ability, Hey,
I trust you, and you know it's that's a good feeling.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
I don't I don't think I have to tell you
guys that it's a good feeling.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Yeah, Like, what was your like NFL moment where you
felt oh, because I mean I love what you said
about No, your preparation and being ready, like gave you
all the confidence in the world going through the quarterback
schooling and just the hours and hours of preparation of
(13:08):
just feeling confident and you know, when your moment comes,
you'rena be ready.
Speaker 6 (13:13):
But what was that.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I think there's a couple I had some preseason moments,
and I think preseason was very, very different twenty years
ago than it is now because you actually played. I mean,
the general rule of thumb was the starters played the
first quarter in the first game, up into the second
quarter in the second game. You played up until halftime
in the third game. That's just kind of how it went.
(13:37):
And there was a couple of times in Carolina Jeff
Blake was the starter, Aaron Brooks was the backup, and
then the next year it was Aaron Brooks and Jeff
Blake those two. I was always going to be the three,
and I knew that, so they played me a ton
in the preseason, and I played early in the games
and it just the game was slow. The game moves
slow in front of my eyes, and so I just
(14:00):
you felt like you were ready. But I think the
biggest one to me, we played Tampa Bay in two
thousand and two. I'm in New Orleans on the backup.
That's the year Tampa won the Super Bowl. They were
loaded on defense, and we have the lead and we're
beating them. And then Aaron Brooks had hurt his shoulders
a few weeks earlier, a little Rotator cup deal, and
he was managing through it, but I guess it tightened
(14:22):
up on him during the course of the game. And
so I'm in and we're up, and we're trying to
run out the clock, and so we get the ball
back to Tampa. Say it's a too many warning and
like a timeout. So if we get a first down,
games over. And so sure enough, eight in the box,
who run the ball? Eight in the box run the ball? Well,
then it's third and like two or three, and I figured,
we're running it again. We're making them use all their timeouts,
(14:44):
and we're just gonna trust our defense. And I'll never
forget Mike McCarthy on the sideline. He called the play.
I left ninety three lead z key, and right when
he said that, I remember I'm walking into the huddle.
I stopped and I turned and I looked through the
sideline and the z key was the opportunity to pick
up the ball and throw it out to Joe Horn
(15:04):
j C.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
Horns to Dade and the key.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
That game was a slant. We changed it up. We
used to call it smoke or whatnot in Carolina, but
this was a slant. And I'll never forget in four
minute situation, you take that off, you don't have that.
So the ball didn't get put on the ground, so
the playfoff can run. And I'll never forget when I
looked through the sideline and he was waiting for me
to look back at it, and when I looked, he
(15:28):
was staring directly and it was like time froze, and
he goes, I'm trusting you, and right then and there
like he wouldn't have done that, And so I had
the opportunity. Okay, if it's down there, if it's there,
I'm throwing it. And sure enough they load eight in
the box and I had to reverse out on the play.
The ninety three to the left, so I have to
reverse out when I formation, and I could see it
(15:49):
was Lynch that walk down into the box. So he's
in the box and I'm like, if I'm taking a
step and I'm a glance, if he moves inside to
go on the run the slant swaddle.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
Well, sure enough, I make it.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I turned and when I look back, I mean it
is just and he's wide open. Joe runners slam. I
throw and I hit him between the eight and the
seven first down. Crowd goes nuts, and I never forget.
Mike Shepard, my quarterback coach, after the game, was like, Buddy,
you don't understand how huge that was. And I said, coach,
he was wide open. I mean that, I said, he goes.
You don't understand. You can't miss the layup in that spot.
(16:25):
Many people will miss the layup. And it didn't register
to me at that time. It didn't, but I had
done it, like we had practiced. I was ready, and
it's like the game, you know, I just it was time.
But listen, that was years. That wasn't just Oh. I
practiced well for a couple of weeks. That was built
up of years of preparation. And to look back and
(16:47):
Mike like, I trust you, you know.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
What I mean?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
That was huge.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
That was big for me, A big confidence booster for me.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
That's awesome, man, because it's definitely you know, missing those
I always think to myself, Man, he was wide open. Yeah,
like me, I'm thinking to myself, man, what if he
would have missed that pass or what if he would
have dropped that ball. I remember one time we played
the Saints and it was Jimmy Clawson's first touched I
was Jimmy Clauson's first touchdown throw and it was broken
(17:13):
coverage and I was out there just basically being you know,
I don't know, disguise, I don't know. I was just
out there whenever I go out into this, you know,
to spread the I'm a decoy.
Speaker 7 (17:30):
That just Muhammad feels away about that word. We can
tell that story. Jake knows what I'm talking.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Yeah, But like when I'm out there on an island
with whoever's covering me, they know I'm not getting the ball,
so I just take off running and next thing you know,
I'm wide open and Jimmy Clauson throws me the ball
and I'm thinking to myself, Wow, We're in New Orleans,
so the lighting and all that kind of stuff. This
(17:58):
is my first time catching a a go route and
it was underthrown and so I had to come back
to the ball. And when I came back, I was like, oh,
this is I'm wide open. I caught it and then
I looked around and then I just took off running
and then I got tripped. I tripped because I was
(18:18):
basically trying to like run really fast, but I didn't
really need to run fast. It was like that in
between of not knowing what I was doing. Bro almost
almost messed that.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Up too much time to look at the ball, like.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
You're just thinking about it, Man, you better catch this.
I cradled it. I didn't catch it with my hands.
I cradled it. I didn't want to mess it up.
It was his first touchdown son. Yeah, man, but when when?
But going back to that, if I was practicing go
routes and catching go routes all the time, I wouldn't
have even thought about it.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
It would have just happened.
Speaker 7 (18:49):
But I got to go back. I got to go back.
Since you that's that That is a great story. But
but the word decoy, i'd have heard this story from
the sore, but I need to hear from a quarterback's perspective.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Okay, I was not in Carolina at the time. I
just this was this was no but I'd heard about it.
I believe this was the George Sea for days or
day and I think that was the one in fifteen season.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
And uh, I was told number eighty seven with sim
Mohammed put duct table over his name on his practice
jersey and he put decoy.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Someone wasn't someone wasn't happy with the Monto touches he
was getting here for.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Just because I don't know. I mean, I've played with
Moose and Steve, and I'm gonna be very honest, I
don't think neither one complained too much about getting the
ball because you got to you got to throw them
to football. Those two guys can help you win.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
That's right.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
And haven't haven't gotten no Moose, you know, pretty intimately
over the past year and a half. It makes it
even funnier because he is, you cool, calm, collect cat
that you almost wouldn't see him being that type of
guy Boister is calling attention to.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
But also the brother's competitive.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
And he's confident, and he's confident receivers they have to have.
You rarely see the receivers that are not this big
personality that's few and far between, you know, it really
and truly is. And uh, I was lucky. Man. I
have so many people that ask, you know when you
see some of these other receivers, the man this, the
(20:34):
man that, and like Steven, who's I mean, those guys
came to practice every day. I mean, Moose is out
of practice early every day, Richie Williamson throwing him these passes, Smitty,
the way he took care of his body. It was
just those guys came to play and they wanted to play,
and they wanted to win, and they blocked for each other.
I'm watching video of the Saints earlier today for this weekend,
(20:57):
and you don't watch. I'm not gonna call out a name,
but I'm watching somebody a receiver and I'm like, yeah,
you gotta dig in and block this safety.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
I mean that that there's positive runs.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
And I'm like, you know what, we didn't have that
much in Carolina. You know, Moose would come in and
try to capitate a safety and Steve would come in
and try to capitate one. And I'm seeing somebody that
really truly didn't want to block.
Speaker 7 (21:17):
So yeah, yeah, you were blessed. You were blessed. I mean,
you know you mentioned those two guys. You think about
a Ricky Proll, you think it just tough Jersey Cats,
smart knows how to play the game. You know, we
got to talk to Ricky last week on the podcast.
He's just I mean, you could talk to Ricky's exceptional, right,
He's just.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Great player, great coach.
Speaker 7 (21:38):
But but man to your point, you had a great,
great receiver. R You had a great receiver, and there's
probably a couple of Cats that we could mention as
well going back. You know, and then if you look
at a tight end position too, right, So I mean
you were stacked.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
You were stacked.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Yeah, we were. You know, I wish, I wish I
could have played. And it's no, I'm not talking about
the other guys we played with. But like Coach Fox,
the tight ends we had, he just those tight ends
were supposed to be there to block.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
It wasn't like.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
The Wesley Walls who could run and get open. It
wasn't like the Greg Olsen because those two guys are
pretty darn similar. I mean, those guys are big and long,
and they could run, and they could run. I wouldn't luck,
you know, I missed those guys, you know, and we
had more of the UH coach fox if you look
at it. You know, Chris Mangum was a starter, seventh
round pick. Jermaine Wiggins I believe was undrafted, you know. Yeah,
(22:32):
Jeff King was another one fifth round, sixth round pick. Yeah.
So we had those guys that were just it wasn't
like these were these elite speed guys and things like that.
Just tough, hard nose, tight end, can play full back
if you need, h back if you need. That was
kind of you know, our money was spent in the
running back room, some o line wide receivers and then
(22:53):
on defense.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Speaking of speed, I don't think anyone knows how fast.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
You are, Jake, know what you're trying to be funny.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Listen, check this out. Got a story. So two thousand
and nine, you'll remember this. We're playing the Redskins at home.
Oh yeah, we were running the ball pretty well, and
you know, four minute drill for everybody is basically an
opportunity for you know, the offense to close out a
(23:23):
game and run out the clock and as a running
back offensive lineman. We lived for that moment, and I
remember like the level of execution for this boot what
we baked it to the left.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
It was outside outside zone of some sort of it.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
It was a run play and I just kept it.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
Oh that's what it was, And that's.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Because it was there were crashing crash, but we had
I think we had can recall if I told Steve
or not, hey, because you wanted to, like mentioned, hey,
be prepared, I might keep it. You know. You wanted
to give him that because he's coming down just to
try to get forced. But on something like that, he
wants to come and then make as if there's the
corner out there, just get getting his way, you know.
(24:12):
But I can't remember if I told him or not.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Okay, that makes a lot of sense now because I'm
like thinking about this play and I carried out the
fake as if I had the ball like that. In
my mind, I'm like, either I have I'm supposed to
have this ball, or I'm just doing a great fake
right now because at this point he.
Speaker 6 (24:27):
Has the ball still. And I just remember I think
I jogged.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
I just jogged up to the left of their sideline
and I'm looking at the big I'm looking at the
big screen, at the jumbo tron, and I see Jake
just take off running so fast. I mean not like
lightning fast for anyone hearing this, but like for him,
for Jake speed, this was like his horse is running,
(24:53):
you know, to the finish line. And basically, man, you
get you lower your shoulder and it was Hall defensive back,
uhel Hall. But she's what she's on the staff here now.
And you drag him, Bro, you drag him across. Then
(25:15):
you had an angle, but you dragged him.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
You dragged him.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
I was able to get the first No, don't be
hung take what it is. It worked out. That was
one of my few highlights.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
I will tell you. I will tell you this.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
That moment was a moment for me because I was like, man,
our quarterback is crazy, like because you got up and
you were speaking occasion You're like, yeah, got dark, get
like and and your your shoulder pad was all jacked
up like I think.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
I think my chin strap was like covered over right here,
no doubt.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
But there was no way we were going to lose
that game. And it was all because of you, man.
Speaker 4 (26:02):
So that was one of my most memorable moments because
you know, sometimes quarterbacks got to put it on the line.
And speaking of quarterbacks, we have Bryce Young, a lot
of young quarterbacks in this league. I want to know
your take on, you know, the expectations that are set
on these younger quarterbacks. You kind of spoke about it
(26:24):
earlier as far as like how your situation went where
you had time. A lot of these quarterbacks are coming
in and the expectations are the are for them to
be the next Patrick Mahomes out the gate and not
even Patrick Mahomes had to do that out the gate, right,
So what's your take on where we are with football
and the quarterback position.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Let's not be very honest with you. I think this
is year one for Bryce. This is how I'm looking
at it. You look at last year, first overall, pick
doesn't really have a true number one receiver. We had
to give give up Dj Moore give up to be
able to get Bryce, some of the assets to get Bryce.
And then there's expectations that kind of go through the roof.
(27:07):
But we started fifteen different combinations at the guard position
last year. That's not healthy. We didn't, i mean, have
three different play callers. I mean it just it wasn't
a good little talk.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Didn't happen. It was tough.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
He got sacked sixty two times and he got out
of I promise you he got out of fourteen to
eighteen sacks. I'll never forget Todd Bowles when we played
them late in the year. Todd, who I think is
such an underrated coach, and I love listening to him
talk because you want to talk about not pulling any punches.
And Todd basically said some about Bryce's size and he
(27:47):
looked at the person he was like, have you watched
him this year?
Speaker 5 (27:51):
He's got sacked sixty two times, He's gotten out of
about twenty others.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
He goes this guy the toughness issue. That's not It
was just one of those deals. It's one of those
years that had happened. So listen and going to Bryce.
I'm looking forward to this year to get in a
true sense of what I believe he is. I truly
believe he's an accurate, accurate passer that has great anticipation,
(28:16):
and I think you're gonna see that this year.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
There's still gonna be growing pains in my opinion. Hopefully
I'm wrong. Hopefully we skip a lot of growing pains.
That's just part of it. Man.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
We were a two win football team last year, Okay,
so I do expect to see some big improvement. We've
shored up some offensive line. I think we're going to
be a heavy run football team. We've added some weapons
to help him. But we've had some injuries that tied in.
I mean, a couple of the guys really hadn't practiced much.
So I mean we're gonna have to like just slow progress,
(28:46):
and so much is gonna be made about the whole.
CJ Stroud and God bless him. He did great last year, CJ.
But it seemed like everything kind of hit. They hit
on Tank Dale in the third round, fantastic receiver, Nico
the third round pick from a few years prior, came
into his own, Dalton Schultz from Dallas in his prime.
(29:07):
The offensive line, they had two stud offensive tackles going
into the season, and CJ did a great job and
Demiko that right mix. The defense had just came together.
But I also remember we played Houston last year. We
played them in Bank of American Stadium and we beat them.
And I'll be honest with you, go back and watch
the game. Bryce played better than CJ that day, So
(29:27):
I've seen it happen. It's just it's just, you know,
we had a rough year. So I'm anxious to see
growth from him. I think we're gonna see that, and
I anticipate him doing some really good things. Saw snippet
saw him for one drive in the preseason. But I
think some of those elements they showed up. The accuracy,
(29:48):
the anticipation, the maneuverability in the pocket, moving in, moving
up in the pocket, getting to his left, hitting Deontay
Johnson for the on the fourth down play, going out
to his right, hit Adam Sealing when he scrambling into
the right and is before Adam even drops his hips
to turn to catch the ball, hits him, hits him
on the right shoulder, talking to him, telling him to
(30:08):
go that way, and Adam does that.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
The touchdown pass the Jordan Matthews are blown coverage and his.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Foot he sees it, immediately puts his foot in the
ground and lets the ball go for the touchdown. So
I think some of those pieces are there.
Speaker 7 (30:19):
Yes, you know you going back, you you you bring
up great points, man, And when you think about I
think we're in a league and in a market of
instant gratification, right, people are paying so much attention to
what other teams are doing and this guy right and now,
as a rookie quarterback, if one quarterback in the class
(30:39):
before you comes in and does it, that's a new expectation.
Now that's the bar when really it's so unfair because
there's so many you know, again, if we were to
go back, if all the drafts.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
And season games last year, CJ.
Speaker 8 (30:54):
Stroud they played the Patriots, yes, look, yes, yes the loss. Right, Yeah,
Drake made the first preseason game this year.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
All you hear about all the pundits, Oh my gosh,
how bad of a pick did they make? And then
three weeks later, oh he should be starting over.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
It's because with all the podcasts and all the things
that people have access to, everyone's a guru.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Now.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
That's the difference now is we weren't hearing the people
that don't know what they're talking about. We weren't hearing
these people ten years ago. Now we're hearing them because
they have access to the resources to be able to
be heard. I will say, though Caleb Williams has a
very special situation. I don't really know what their offensive
lines looking at looking like right now, but Roma Dunze, Keenan,
(31:42):
DJ Moore comet at tight end. They added DeAndre Swift
that in my mind, that might be the best rookie
quarterback situation to ever walk into in the history of football.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Right to come forward right now.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Hey, listen, it's a fantastic situation. Wait for him to
come into and just look at it.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
Keenan Allen has been a number one DJ Moore is.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
The number one Roma Dunesday's drafted to be the number
one co comet Segon. I think it was a second
round pick, but they're paying him like he's the heck
of a receiver and tied end. So there's a ton
of weapons and listen, they they want to build for
success in that way, and that's great and all I
hope the offensive line can can hold up for them
because Chicago weather. Yeah, we all know it's going to
(32:28):
get a little difficult, but it comes into a great
situation with some big time football players that can make
plays for him, some security blankets.
Speaker 7 (32:35):
Speaking of old line man, we almost skipped over it.
And as you mentioned that, you know the sacks that
Brace experience last year. You're talking about sharing up the
offensive line with the moves that we may got our
own raised ocasion. Robert Hunt. Yah, I can tell you
this is one of the first things noticed we come
back from this offseason. The size of the offensive line
here in Carolina is drastic, drastically different.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
When when we came down for the we had a
little get together with the ex players right about a
month ago production and we went the production day. We
went on the field to watch that practice on Saturday morning.
And I've been on Hunt since I was eighteen years old,
but I never forget. We're in the end zone, sweets area,
we're visited with the fans and stuff, and the offense
(33:18):
goes out in the field and they lined up and
Austin Corbyn lined up at center and he looked small.
When I saw that, I said to myself, Okay, this
is good, because that is not Austin is not a
small human being. But when you had Hunt lined up
next to them, and then you have Ikey and then
Taylor and then Deep, I mean it was just like
left here we go.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
You know, he is noticeably different.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
Yeah, Well, before before we get out of here, give
us your three keys to victory for the Saints playing
or the Panthers playing the Saints this weekend, twelve o'clock
your time, it's here.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Yeah, well, listen, I think the number one thing, well,
special teams. What's gonna I mean, are we're kicking it
through the end zone? What are we gonna do? Like
you tell me somebody that knows, and I'm gonna call
him and ask them. I don't know how that's gonna
play out, So the special team's part, I just don't know.
But listen, it's gonna start up front. It's gonna definitely
(34:15):
start up front on both sides of the ball. But
I think we need to establish to run and we're
gonna try to run the football and establish a run.
Speaker 5 (34:22):
Coach Canalis wants to do that. We need to do that,
and that all leads to turnovers.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
What is it like if you have one turnover, it's
a seventy eight percent or something like that chance you
lose the game if the plus a minus one turnover battle.
And then on the defensive side of the ball. Kubiak,
son of Gary Kubiak, comes from the whole, Mike Shanahan,
Gary Kubiak, Kyle Shanahan. That tree they want to run
outside zone, and they want to run the football as
(34:48):
much as they can and create those stretch the defense,
those big windows in the passing game after you run
the football. So we gotta run it and we gotta
stop it, and it's gonna come down the turnovers. I mean,
Listen can say that about every game, but truly, in
Week one, not knowing exactly what everybody's gonna do, there's
gonna be new wrinkles every team's practicing. I'm assuming we've
(35:08):
been practicing something for two to three weeks that we
haven't shown in the preseason that you just don't know.
And so execution. But who's gonna make a play? I
mean the NFL comes it comes down to making plays.
I mean, which guys make make plays?
Speaker 7 (35:22):
I feel Week one is just a heavy momentum game.
Playbooks are gonna open up. Like you said, there's not
a lot of tape on this year's team, and it's
gonna be whoever has keep the momentum longer.
Speaker 6 (35:32):
I agree. Well, thanks Jake for the time.
Speaker 5 (35:35):
This is another thing that's key this week.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
There is so much angst amongst Saints fans in regards
to Dennis Allen and Derek Carr, I mean, listen that
there's some tension there. If we can like get up,
take over any kickoff, go down, score, get eternal, get
something to happen. I'm just telling you that Super Doma
is gonna turn and turn fast. That that is something
(35:59):
because Spencer Rattler had a great preseason and especially the
last game he really threw some really good balls and
you're just starting to hear already they just need to
put Spencer Ratler in. They need to put Spencer. So
I'm just telling you that's something that we're gonna have
to watch. This super Dome could turn pretty darn quick
if we can get some momentum. So that's gonna be.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
Key, especially with Saints having a terrible offensive line. If
Carr can't maneuver in the pocket, it's gonna be it
might be.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
That's why I think they're gonna run the football, and
I think they're gonna try to, you know, establish the run,
especially with Koobiak and what they like to do with
that outside zone running game.
Speaker 6 (36:33):
Yeah all right, man, Well, thank you for your time.
Speaker 7 (36:36):
Jake.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
Appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
Jake always, I appreciate you guys having Honor Hall of
Honor member one of the original and just thank you
for your time.
Speaker 6 (36:46):
Everyone.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Make sure you tune in to Jake as he covers
the Panthers this year. He's doing amazing things.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
Can I finish one thing? You know you'll ask me
a question about my come to the NFL moment, and
here it is.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
You know, when I knew Jonathan Stewart had his coming
to the NFL moment that I knew that he might
not have known, but I knew right then and there, yeah,
this is gonna be good. The third preseason game his
rookie year, we played the Washington Commanders and he broke
off a sixty seventy yard run down the left side line.
(37:27):
Am I correct on that? Kay, We knew the speed,
the burst and all that. We had a pass play
later on in that game. I want to say it's
the first drive of the third quarter because we came
out of half to go on a drive and I
was under center.
Speaker 5 (37:42):
And both linebackers.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Mugged up and they were gonna, they were gonna, they
were gonna pressure. So right then and there, I went
back into the shotgun. I gave an easy, easy call
rank so everybody knew, hold up. I got back in
the shotgun. And when that happened, it changed what the
offensive line we're gonna do instead of squeezing down. Now
that I got in the shotgun, they were going to
stay on there, big men. And I was putting number
(38:04):
twenty eight, Jonathan Stewart on one of their linebackers. Jonathan
was gonna block him, so I backed up and he
leaned in and I changed it, and he knew, like
right when I went to tell him who to block,
he was telling me the number like he knew it.
But sure enough, snap and I don't pay attention because
there's trust there. And I think I throw out to
Dante Rosario for a big play. It might have been
(38:24):
a touchdown pass. I can't recall, but I threw it.
Speaker 6 (38:27):
Let's call it a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Stewie hit that linebacker in the face and stunned him
and exactly, and it was right then and there you knew, like, yeah, okay,
this is gonna for a rookie running back. Because that's
the one thing about running backs. They're so talented, they're
not they don't have to block in high school and
in college, they don't have to block. You here, take
the ball and go run. I mean that's kind of
(38:50):
usually what you get.
Speaker 6 (38:51):
Yeah, Coach Skip did a really good job.
Speaker 4 (38:53):
Every every meeting was basically going over protecting the quarterback
because if the quarterback is laying on his back, that
means somebody is getting fired.
Speaker 6 (39:02):
And it wasn't right there.
Speaker 5 (39:04):
We all we knew, Okay, we got one and lucky
lo and behold we had two.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
We had him and D'Angelo. So yeah, it made my
job very easy.
Speaker 6 (39:12):
Well, man, love that. That was a great outro.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Man.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
Really appreciate you, dude, Like I wouldn't be the pro
that I am without having a quarterback like yourself, because
there's a lot of you know, details that you knew
that I didn't have going into certain situations and just
being able to have that quarterback relay in the in
the huddle, you know things like, hey, you got the
(39:35):
flat and I might know I have the flat, but
it's always good to have reassurance. And that's what's really
good about who you are is you're a person that
sees a situation for what it is and you don't
mind giving input where it needs to be given.
Speaker 5 (39:51):
So well, we're all in. We're all in it together.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
I think that's the biggest thing, like you're all in
it together. If you don't know what you're supposed to
do or if somebody's I mean, that's just just the
way it goes, man, I mean that's yeah. That was
your best football teams, you know, the ones that just
kind of they just took over for each other and
things like that. Man, those are and hopefully we can
get to that way because Bryce he has that. He's
got that ability to kind of see it and do it.
(40:15):
He did it in the last preseason game. Play clock
was running down, he aborted the fake, aborted the motion
real quick. Called him in his eyes. I mean you
don't see any whites in his eyes, he's just looking
called him in, got him sick. I mean like he
has that.
Speaker 5 (40:27):
So I'm looking forward to to some a big jump,
all right, man, Thank you guys,
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